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-trLLER. ORTOtJ. fc MTILr..lGA>< . 



THE 



YOUNG AMERICAN'S 



LIFE OF FREMONT. 



BY ♦ 

FRANCIS C. WOODWORTH, 

EDITOR OF "WOODWORTH'S YOUTH's CABINET,'' AUTHOR OF 

"uncle FRANK'S HOME STORIES," THEODORE THINKER'S 

TALES," "INSECT WONDERS," ETC. 



/ 




MILLEE, ORTON & MULLIGAN, 

NEW ¥ORK, 25 PARR ROW; AUBURN, 107 GENESEE ST. 

1856. 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by 

MILLER, ORTON AND MULLIGAN, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States 

for the Southern Disti-ict of New York. 



MILLER & IIOLMAN, 
Printers & Stereotypei-s, N. T, 



PREFACE. 

I HAVE written tlie following pages chiefly, not solely, 
for young Americans — for boys on or near those stairs 
to manhood called teens. John 0. Fremont is a man who 
has hewed his way, through many obstacles, to greatness 
and usefulness. There are few men of the present age, who 
have accomplished so much, in so brief a period, for them- 
selves and their country. Beginning his career without 
wealth, without influential friends, without the prestige of 
distinguished ancestry, he has risen, by the force of his own 
iron will, to a position among his countrymen, which kings 
might envy. He has won for himself the name, though still 
below the full meridian of life, of one of the greatest explor- 
ers of the nineteenth century. Whether we judge of his ex- 
plorations by the amount of genius, and courage, and daring, 
and perseverance, which they involved, or by their magnifi- 
cent results, we are forced to admit that they are seldom 
equaled. 

On this account — not only because of his success, but 
because he made his own road to success — I regard his his- 
tory as one of great value to young men, now preparing to 
take active parts in the great drama of life. I have written 
these sketches, with this end, more than any other, in view. 
It has been my purpose to hold up before the mind of the 
young reader, prominently but truthfully, the exploits of 
the great Pathfinder of the Rocky Mountains ; to show how 



Preface. 



he rose, from comparative obscurity, crushing all obstacles 
under his feet, to his present enviable position ; and to incite 
and encourage young men, let their advantages be few or 
many, by the example his history affords them. 

The book was prepared with no political object. I have 
not gone out of my way to gather laurels for the subject of 
it. I have sketched him, according to the best of my abili- 
ty, just as he was, and is, aiming only to present a correct 
model, and to render it effective in its influence upon the 
character and career of the young aspirant to genius. 

To Dr. John Kobertou, formerly of Charleston, but now 
of Philadelphia, I am under special obligations, for incidents 
which came under his observation while Fremont, then a lad 
of some thirteen years, was a pupil in his school. Other 
facts connected with his early history, not embraced in either 
of the excellent lives already before the public, I have col- 
lected from conversations with several former residents of 
Charleston who were acquainted with the Fremont family. 
I may add, too, for the benefit of the reader — should I hap- 
pen to have one of this class and order — who knows so 
little of the character of Colonel Fremont, as to need such 
an assurance, that I have derived nothing whatever of my 
material from him. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

Introduction, telling what I am going to do, and how I am going 
to do it 13 

CHAPTER II. 

Parentage of John Charles Fremont — Huguenot origin of the Fami- 
ly — Why the Father came to this Country — Taken Prisoner of 
War — Escapes — His Wooing, and Wedding — Journey among 
the Indians — Birth of Charles — Condition of the Family Money 
Chest — Is it well for Boys to start in the World Rich ? — Death 
of Charles' Father — Incidents of Childhood 18 

CHAPTER III. 

Early Youth of John Charles— Some Thoughts about the Cultivation 
of Wild Oats — Charles goes to School at Charleston — The way 
he served the Bully — Finds a good Friend, who sends him to a 
Select School — Dr. Eoberton, the excellent Tutor — What he 
says about his young Pupil — What the Pupil says of the Tutor 
— Charles at Play — His Fortitude in Suffering — His Love for 
his Sister — Goes to College — An Act not laid down in the Play 
— A few grains of Philosophy, dry as Scotch Snuff, though not 
as pungent 28 

CHAPTER IV. 

Charles turns over a new Leaf — Kindness to his Mother — Efforts to 
fit Himself for active Life — Teacher and Scholar at the same 
Time — Death of his Sister and Brother — Progress in Mathe- 
matics — Takes to Civil Engineering — Executes a Difficult 
Task — Is Enrolled in the National Crusade against South Caro- 



yiii Contents. 



Una Nullifiers— Cruise to South America — Appointed Second 
Lieutenant of the Topographical Engineers — His first taste of 
Life in the Wilderness — Buffalo Hunt — Getting Lost — Returns 
to Washington — Falls in love with Jessie Benton — How he 
wooed, and how he wed her — His Religious Sentiments — What 
his Enemies say, and how they lie (under a mistake) — Thoughts 
by the Way, as well as in the Way 46 

CHAPTER V. 

Fu*st great Exploring Expedition — Its Object — Kit Carson — Hos- 
tile Indians — A Funny Mistake — The Dog Feast — Arrival at 
Foi-t Laramie — Courage of the Party — Harangue of the Indian 
Chiefs — Fremont's Speech in Reply — The Party move on — Per- 
ilous Journey — Stories about Starvation ahead — No Flinching 
among the Company — How they Broke their Barometer — 
How it was Repau'ed — Approach to the highest Peak in the 
Rocky Mountains — Preparations for Climbing it — Difficulty 
of reaching its Base — Snow and Ice — Ground and Lofty Tum- 
bling — Encampment among the Mountains — They reach the 
Base of the Highest Peak — Scrambling towards the Top — Dan- 
gers of the Ascent — Fremont reaches the Summit First — The 
Rest of the Party follow — Great Exultation — The Star-Spangled 
Banner planted on the Top of the Peak — An Exploring Bee — 
His Capture— Return to the Encampment — Homeward Bound 
— Wreck on the Platte River— Loss of Valuable Papers and 
Instruments — Perils of Upsetting among Rapids — Safe Return 
to St. Louis 57 

CHAPTER VI. 

Fremont's Second Exploring Expedition— The Object of it— The 
Outfit — Enlistment of the Company — The Route — Scraping 
Acquaintance with the Sioux Indians — Queer Articles of Food 
— Arrival at the Great Salt Lake— Visit to an Island in the 
Lake — The Bear Springs — Turbulence of the Lake— Perils Com- 
mence — Indian Character in General— The Author's Descrip- 
tion of Kansas Indians — An Odd Name— Analysis of the Wa- 
ter in the Great Salt Lake— A Party of Exploring Musquitoes 
—Purchase of a Horse— His Sacrifice for Food— Snake In- 
dians—How they Live— Their Resemblance to the Vegetables 



Contents. ix 



they eat — Men's wants Avhat they choose to make them — Lights 
and Shadows of Ultra Civihzation 79 

CHAPTER VII. 

Fremont's Arrival at Fort Hall — Geographical Position of the 
Fort — The Distance Traveled — Preparation for Winter — Fre- 
mont as a Narrator — Arrival at Fort Vancouver — The Main 
Object of the Expedition Attained — Plans for more Extended 
Explorations — Sense versus Heroism — Wisdom of Hudibras — 
Obligations of the Country to tbe Great Pathfinder — Exhibits a 
nobler Heroism than that of the Battle Field — Value of his 
Career as a Model for Youth — Fremont and Napoleon Com- 
pared — General Ignorance, up to this time, respecting the Dis- 
trict to be Explored — Current Fables about it — Fremont's 
strict regard to Justice — Arrival at the Tlamath Lake — Its sin- 
gular Character — Overawing Hostile Indians — A Talk with the 
Tribe— Their Rank in the scale of InteUigence — Singular In- 
dian Dogs — A Glance at the Map — Extent of the Territory of 
Utah — Something about the Mormons in Particular, and Pools 
in General 99 

CHAPTER VIII. 

A Glance at the Snake Indians — Interior View of their Lodges — 
Their Food — How a whole Village was Frightened olf— Fogs 
plenty and Grass scarce— Remarkable Boiling Springs— -An 
Episode in the shape of a Trout Feast— Looking out for the 
fabled Buenaventura River— Decision to cross over the Sierra 
Nevada into California — Indians again — Engagement of a 
chicken-hearted Guide, and how he ran away — Virtues of the 
Snake Indians not numerous — Character of the Sierra Nevada- 
Fremont's Address before Commencing the new Enterprise — 
Scarcity of Provisions— The Roast Dog— Snow increases- 
How a Path is made— A Mule Slide— Frozen Feet— Traveling 
on Snow-shoes — The Mercury goes down, as the Party go up — 
Taking the Veil— Tragic end of the little Dog Tlamath— Arrival 
at the Summit of the Mountain — Height of the Sierra — An Ac- 
cidenteil Cold Bath — No Grass — Horses begin to decline in 
Strength— Grass at last— A Man becomes light-headed. . 114 



Contents. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Loss of Mr. Preuss — Careful Search for him — He is not Fouud — 
Guns fired, but no Answer — Traces of Indians — An Indian Vil- 
la^Q — No Tidings of Preuss — Grass-Eating Squaws — Beautiful 
Camp — Preuss is found— Story of his Adventures — An Indian 
Village, neat for a Wonder — Good News — Sutter's Fort near at 
band — Arrival at Sutter's — A civilized Dinner once mure — New 
Outfit — Homeward' Bound — Route Indicated— Barter with In- 
dians — Party leave the Plain, and take to the Mountains again — 
Capture of Horses stolen from Spanish Traders — Adventures 
with the Digger Indians — Their Lizard-hunting— Their Horse- 
Stealing — Their Root-digging — Their Deeds in general — A Horse- 
feast — Tragic end of Tabeau — Arrival at the Southern arm of the 
Great Salt Lake— Almost a Skirmisli — They reach the Summit of 
the Rocky Mountains — Arrival at Bent's Fort— End of the Se- 
cond Expedition 139 

CHAPTER X. 

Third Expedition — The Route — The objects to be gained — The Pio- 
neer Party — Search for them by Night — Division of the Expedi- 
tion into two Parties — Route of each Division — Fremont's Party 
Encounter the old Squaw left to die — ^The young Indian and his 
Dinner-pot — The 'rheft — Strange Encounter — The two Divisions 
meet again — Setting in of Winter — The Party again divided — 
Fremont obtains Supplies from Captain Sutter — Starts in Pur- 
suit of the other Division — Skirmish with Horse Thief Indians — 
Indian Courage analyzed — Barking and biting Dogs contrast- 
ed — Hemmed in by the Snow — Loss of the Cattle — Mi&take in 
the Name of the Pass — Overwise People — Meeting of the two 
Divisions — Fremont proceeds to Monterey — Obtains Permission 
of the Government to pass through the Country, with his Men — 
Afterwards receives Orders to quit — Encounters Eighty Mexican 
Dragoons — Takes a Position, and acts on the Defensive — Hia 
laconic Note to the Consul — Marches again under Cover of the 
Night— Dispatches from Washington — Battle with the Tlamath 
Indians — Saving Carson's Life 168 



Contents. xi 



CHAPTER XI. 

Military Exploits in California — State of the Country when Fre- 
mont arrived — Designs of England— The people look to Fremont 
for a Leader — He accedes to their Request — Aims at the Inde- 
pendence of California — Raises the Bear Flag — His Battalion — 
Marches against the hostle Indians — Advance of Castro — Dis- 
appointment in not meeting him — Castro's Scientitio Movements 
— Fremont's Practical Movements — Attacks and routs Sev- 
enty of Castro's Dragoons — Clears the Northern Part of Cali- 
fornia of Mexican Troops — Intelligence of Declaration of War 
with Mexico — Hoisting the United States Flag — Pursues Castro 
— Appointed Governor of California by Commodore Stockton 
— Capture of Prisoners — Pardon of Pico — Conquest of Califor- 
nia due to Fremont more than to any other Man — Boldness of 
his Movements — Conciliates the Wah lah-wah-lah Indians — Ap- 
pointed Lieutenant-Colonel — Extraordinary Ride — A Bear Story 
— Trouble resulting fx-om the Dispute between Stockton and Kear- 
ney — The Dilemma — Decides to obey Stockton — Accused by 
Kearney, and brought before a Court-Martial — Court decide 
Against him — Reasons — Fremont's Enemies — How he came by 
them — Reinstated by the President — Gives up his Commission, 
and leaves the Army — Death of his Mother — Compliment by 
the Citizens of Charleston t 191 

CHAPTER XII. 

Fourth Expedition — Why it was undertaken — How it was Effected 
— Who made up the Party — Mr. Preuss — How strangely he and 
Fremont became acquainted, and what came of their Ac- 
quaintance — Starting of the Expedition — Arrival at Bent's Fort 
— Letter to Colonel Benton — Letter to his Wife — Engagement 
of an ignorant Guide — Details of the Sufferings of the Party — 
Violent Snow Storms — Loss of all the Mules — Provisions give 
out — Death of ten of the Party from Starvation and Freezing — 
Arrival of Fremont and a Portion of the Party at Carson's in 
New Mexico — Further Particulars of Suffering and Death — 
Hope for the Future — Effoi-ts to Rescue the Men still in the 
Mountains — Fremont goes on to California — The Mariposas Es- 
tate — Story about one of Fremont's Men— Arrival of his Family 



xii Contents. 



— What kind of Life Mrs. Fremont had to live — How she got 
nloug with it — What she said about having Slaves to help her— 
What her Husband said, and what he did to keep Slavery out 
of California — Constitution adopted without Slavery — Fremont 
Elected Senator — Gets the Short Term by drawing Lots — His 
Course in the Senate — His Activity and Industry — His rank as 
a Legislator — His Capacities as a Leader in Washington as well 
U6 across the Rocky Mountains, . . . .... 213 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Keturnto California — Illness— Deals in Cattle — His Dealings with 
the United States Government — Golden iVLedal from the King of 
Prussia — Letter from Earon Humboldt — Visit to Europe — Fifth 
and last Exploring Expedition — Extreme Cold — Encounters Mr. 
Babbitt with the Mail for Washington — Letter to Colonel Benton 
— Mr. Carvalho's Journal — A Glance at theDinner Table — Sleep- 
ing in open Air— Fremont's Address — The solemn Oath — Trav- 
eling barefoot — Saucy Indians — Their insolent Demand.* — How 
they were dealt with — The Lesson they learned— Their final De- 
parture, each one with a Flea in his Ear— Decline and Death of 
Fuller — Results of this Expedition — Fremont's ArriA'al in Cali- 
fornia — Public Dinner tendered to him, which he declines — Goes 
to Washington—Removes with his Family to New York — He 
is Nominated as a Candidate for the Presidency — Reasons for 
Selecting him — Importance of the Principles to defend which he 
was selected — The great Question to be decided in the Contest 
for the Presidency — Personal Appearance of Fremont — His Ad- 
dress — Prominent Traits in his Character 244 

CHAPTER XIY. 

Wherein the Story-Teller, having finished the Spinning of his 
Yarn, does little else but wind it up. 276 



YOUNG AMERICAN'S 
LIFE OF FREMONT. 



Chapte r I. 

BOYS, I am going to talk to you about one 
of the most noted men of the present 
age. I am going to show you not only what 
great things he has accomplished, not only how 
high he has risen in the respect and admiration 
of his country, but how he reached this aston- 
ishing height, and what steps he took to attain 
it. Can you guess now who my hero is ? 

" I guess it is Napoleon, the French em- 
peror." 

No ; my hero, in climbing up to this high 
place in his country's regard, has n-ot waded 
through the blood of his countrymen, nor used 
piles of their dead bodies as steps to his great- 
ness. 



14 Young American's 

"But be was a military hero, wasn't he, 
Uncle Frank?" 

He was acquainted with military affairs, and 
has shown himself a brave man on the field of 
battle ; but his greatest exploits, and those 
which have won for him the name of one of 
the bravest heroes, and one of the brightest 
ornaments of the present century, were far 
enough from being warlike. He has had much 
more to do with peace than with war. 

" Oh, Uncle Frank ! I thought you were 
going to tell us about somebody who had 
fought ever so many battles. I like war-stories 
above all things." 

I don't doubt it. I never saw a boy yet who 
didn't like fairy stories, and stories about pirates, 
and about heroes fighting in the ranks of the 
wounded and dying. Boys delight in such 
tales, because there is something stirring, some- 
thins^ startlinor about them. But. unless I am 
greatly mistaken, the scenes in the life of my 
hero, although they are mostly peaceful and 
harmless, are stirring enough, and thrilling 
enough, to suit anybody's taste. 

" Oh, I wonder if you don't intend to give 
us some stories about Fremont ?" 

That's it, my shrewd fellow ! You've hit 



Life of Fremont. 15 

the nail on the head exactly. Our hero is — 
John Charles Fremont. 

"I'm glad of that. I've heard something 
about him, and I want to know more. I'm not 
sure but I would rather listen to the story 
about his exploits among the snows of the 
Eocky Mountains, than I would about fighting 
battles, and killing lots of people." 

Well, I'm not sorry to hear you say so. 
Uncle Frank is not much of a fighting charac- 
ter, and he has a strong dislike to war, in any 
shape. I don't doubt that wars are necessary 
sometimes, though very seldom, I think ; and 
when they are necessary, the necessity is a ter- 
rible one. To my mind, there is nothing 
pleasant in the visage of War. I don't love to 
look him in the face. I don't love to look over 
the ground where his feet have trod, nor to dwell 
on the deeds he has done. The little that our 
hero has had to do with battles, in the course 
of his life, was when surrounded by circum- 
stances which seemed to compel him to ex- 
change, for a time, the pursuits of peace for 
those more warlike. He was never a lover of 
war, as some people are, just for the sake of the 
excitement of it. 

It really seems to me, boys, that we shall 



16 Young American's 

get along bravely with our chat about the ad- 
ventures of Fremont. In the first place, there 
is nothing which I would love to talk about so 
well ; and in the second place, if I understand 
you, there is nothing which you would like 
better to hear about. 

Now, let US determine upon the plan we 
shall pursue in going over these adventures. I 
don't mean to tell you all that Charles Fremont 
ever did in his life. Before I got through with 
such a task as this, were I to attempt it, I think 
you would begin to tease me to take up some 
other theme. You would think, if you didn't 
say right out, that I was giving you rather too 
much of a good thing. I shall present you 
w^ith only the principal incidents in the life of 
the great pathfinder, and pass lightly over the 
rest. Let me see : is it best to go straight for- 
ward with my story, at a dashing rate, some- 
what after the railroad fashion, and have all the 
talking to myself? or shall the boys be allowed, 
once in a while, to put in a word themselves, 
and ask Uncle Frank to be a little steady and 
gentle when he comes to the hard spots, and to 
see that everybody gets safely over ? 

No answer, eh ? Ah, I see how it is. I've 
the most modest set of nephews to be found on 



Life of Fremont. 17 

this continent, I verily believe. You are afraid 
to come right out, and say you would like to 
take a part in the conversation, rather than 
have Uncle Frank do all the talking. You are 
afraid to say so, because it might look as if you 
thought he would tire out your patience. But 
I see clearly enough — for I can read it in your 
countenances— what your minds are on this 
point. You would like the liberty of asking a 
question now and then, and perhaps of throwing 
in a remark. Well, I w^ould quite as lief have 
it so. In telling my stories, I always think I 
have accomplished half my task when I can 
see that every one is listening w4th as much in- 
terest as I am talking ; and to gain that end, 
to secure that interest, I don't mind breaking 
the thread of a story short off, every two or 
three minutes. I can join the threads together 
again, as easily as a weaver can tie the broken 
pieces in his loom ; and when the whole story 
is woven, I don't know that it makes much 
difference in the appearance of it, whether the 
Jilling has been broken or not. The cloth is 
just as good, in either case. 



18 Young American's 



Chapter II. 

THE father of John Charles Fremont was 
not a rich man. It is a very common opinion 
among boys, that just about the best thing that 
can happen to a young man, when he is setting 
out in life, is to have a nice fortune left him 
by his father. Now I don't think so. I think 
there are some other things far more desirable 
to start with than w^ealth. That is well 
enough ; but what is it worth without ambi- 
tion, without habits of industry, and energy, 
and perseverance ? I would rather a young 
man should have these traits of character than 
whole chests full of silver and gold. From his 
father, Charles inherited no money, no lands, no 
bank-stock. 

" Is it too early yet to stop the train, Uncle 
Frank?" 

Not at all. 

*' Then, if you please, I wish you would tell 
us why you say Charles, when almost every- 
body, in talking about him, and writing about 
him, calls him John Charles.''' 



Life of Fremont. 19 

Well, I'll tell you. Though he was chris- 
tened with this double name, the last one only 
was used in his childhood and youth, in ad- 
dressing him. Nobody used to call him John 
Charles at school. His teacher never gave him 
the double name. He grew up familiar only 
with the sinole one. The entire name was sel- 
dom or never used until he became famous by 
his exploits ; and then it was thrust upon him 
by strangers, who were not aware what he had 
been called formerly. His new name doesn't 
sound so familiar and pleasant to the family as 
the old one. So I shall call him Charles, as he 
used to be called — as I have heard the friends 
of his boyhood speak of him, and as his mother 
would call him, were she still in the world. 

Well, as I was saying, Charles Fremont in- 
herited from his father no huge piles of money, 
no broad acres of land. But he had within 
himself an iron will, more valuable than all 
the gold mines in California. What does such 
a boy need wealth for, when he begins his 
struggle with the world, and when he makes 
np his mind that he will do somctJihig and he 
somehochj ? Wealth ! why it would be in his 
way. It would clog his steps to greatness. So 
do not whine and murmur, my boy, if you don't 



20 Young American's 

happen to be the son of a man who can count 
his thousands of dollars. I honestly believe 
you are quite as well off without the thousands, 
as you would be with them. Indeed, I am not 
sure but you are better off. Certainly you are, 
if you have got within you the spirit of 
Charles. I don't believe he would have been 
half so successful if he had had a hundred thou- 
sand dollars left him by some rich relative. If 
he had been rich, he would never have felt the 
need of drawing so largely upon the treasures 
within him. 

The father of Charles was born in France. 
His name, too, was John Charles. He came 
over to this New World during the period of 
the French Revolution. Like many others of 
his countrymen, he preferred the life of an ex- 
ile in a distant land, to one in the midst of the 
horrors of the sword and the guillotine. The 
streets of Lyons, the native city of Mr. Fre- 
mont, for weeks and months, ran with the 
blood of its citizens. France was under the 
reign of terror. The people — the honest, the 
sincere, the true-hearted people — who, at first, 
approved of the revolution, now began to de- 
plore it. From the king, and the queen, and 
the highest nobles, the guillotine at length se- 



Life of Fremont. 21 

Jected its victims from the lower ranks. The 
people were alarmed. Terror spread every- 
where, and took possession of every breast. No 
one felt safe. As head after head fell beneath 
the fatal blade, who could tell but his own turn 
might come next ? 

It was from the midst of scenes such as these, 
and in consequence of them, that Mr. Fre- 
mont fled from his country, and sought a 
home on this side of the Atlantic. He was a 
Huguenot. 

" That's rather a knotty v^ord. Will you 
please to tell us what it means, sir ?" 

Certainly. I'm glad you asked the question. 
I can remember when I disliked to have any- 
body stop me, right in the midst of a story. It 
used to put me out. But I made up my mind, 
long ago, that it was a great deal better to 
have the boys understand me, than it was to 
have my stories go on smoothly. Story-tellers 
too often go ahead like a steam-engine, if you 
let them have their own way. It is w^ell to 
put on the breaks once in a while, as you are 
doing. But about the Huguenots. 

You know that during the first half of the 
sixteenth century, Martin Luther and others, 
living in different parts of Germany, said a 



22 Young American's 

great deal and wrote a great deal against the 
religion of the Eoman Catholic Church. Lu- 
ther's whole soul was on fire respecting the 
errors and the wickedness of the Pope and the 
priests. He spoke and wrote with great earn- 
estness. The people, many of them, believed 
what he said, and by and bye, a great portion 
of Germany became Protestants. This is the 
period in history which we call the Reformation, 
Luther's doctrines spread. They soon reached 
France and England. There was a violent 
opposition to the Protestants in France. 
Those who embraced the religion were burned 
or inhumanly slaughtered. Still multitudes 
declared themselves converts to the new re- 
ligion. These persons at length took the name 
of Huguenots, They were among the greatest 
heroes whom the world ever knew. They 
went to the stake, for their faith. The king of 
France, at this time, was a mere boy, some 
thirteen or fourteen years of age, and the gov- 
ernment was in the hands of a woman by the 
name of Catherine de Medici, the queen mo- 
ther. She was a very zealous Catholic, and a 
very cruel woman. After persecuting the Hu- 
guenots, with the spirit of a fiend, for several 
years, she determined to kill the whole of 



Life of Fremont. 23 

them, men, women and children. So, one 
night, she held a council with her ministers 
and some of the Catholic priests, to discuss 
the mode in which her designs should be car- 
ried out. At this council, it was resolved, that 
on the approaching Saint Bartholomew's Day, lYl 1 
there sho^ild be a general massacre of the Hu- 
guenots throughout the city of Paris. Secret 
orders were sent all over the city. The day 
arrived. At midnight, a bell from the tow^er 
of the royal palace gave the signal that the 
work of murder was to commence. Thousands 
were slain that night ; and afterwards, by the 
order of the queen mother, the massacre was 
extended to the whole kingdom. These bloody 
scenes continued thirty days ; and during this 
period, at least thirty thousand Huguenots, 
whose only crime was that they dared to think 
for themselves, in matters of religion, suffered 
death. 

But we must get back again to our story. 
It is time to join the thread, I think. The 
vessel in which Mr. Fremont left France for 
this country, was captured by an English man- 
of-war. 

'*How did that happen. Uncle Frank ? What 
had Mr. Fremont or any of the rest of the 



24 Young American's 

passengers done, to deserve capture and impri- 
sonment ?" 

Why nothing, perhaps. But the command- 
er of the English vessel was acting according 
to the laws of war, which are very different 
from those that control people in times of 
peace. 

" Then France and England were at war at 
that time ?" 

Yes, I ought to have mentioned this fact be- 
fore, perhaps. Mr. Fremont was taken to one 
of the British islands, with the rest of the 
passengers and crew, where he w^as detained 
as a prisoner of war. Fremont, the father 
of our Charles, was quite a young man at this 
time; but I think we can see in him, even at 
this age, something of the metal which was, 
years afterwards, so prominent in his son. He 
didn't spend his time in sighing over the mise- 
ry of his fate. He kept up a good heart. He 
made the best of his misfortune. He went to 
work. He and his companions made willow- 
baskets, and sold them. Fremont, however, 
found he could do better at painting, than he 
could at basket-making ; so, after a while, he 
began to paint frescoes for the ceilings of the 
wealthy inhabitants. By and bye, he had a 



Life of Fremont. 25 

great deal of work to do, in the way of fresco 
painting. He soon earned money enough to 
enable him to escape, and he did escape. 

" How long was he a prisoner, Uncle 
Frank ?" 

I don't know the exact time — some two or 
three years, I think. He went from this island 
to Norfolk, in the State of Virginia. Thence, 
soon after, he went to Richmond, where he 
gave French lessons, by which, for a while, he 
sustahied himself. 

Not long after this we find him in love with 
a beautiful and accomplished lady, who seems 
to have given him her own love in return for 
his. He w^as married when he was about thirty 
years old. Mr. Fremont was fond of adven- 
ture, and it would seem that his wife shared 
this fondness, to some extent, with him. At 
that time, a great portion of the States of 
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and 
Tennessee, wasinhabited by Indians. Through 
this country Mr. and Mrs. Fremont determined 
to travel. They wanted to learn all there was 
among the Indians, strange and wonderful, and 
they wanted, too, to see what kind of a country 
there was in this wilderness. They made the 
journey in their own carriage, taking with them 



26 Young Americanos 

provisions, the means of cooking, beds, and all 
the conveniences of " camping out," as the 
settlers in our Western country say, in the 
forest. They took a great deal of interest in 
the Indians, and learned much of their habits. 

It was during this journey, right in the 
midst of the wild scenes of pioneer life, that 
Charles, our hero was born. So you see it is 
not strange that he should come to have such 
a taste for adventure, and that he should, very 
early in life, throw all the energies of his soul 
into gigantic schemes for exploring the wildest 
portions of our continent. 

\ Charles has often ^ heard his mother tell 
stories about this journey among the Indians. 
She used to say, that she never could help 
shuddering, when she saw those swarthy sons 
of the forest, take up the little babe in their 
rough way, and fondle him. They seemed to 
be very fond of him, to be sure ; but such rude 
treatment to that tender mother, unaccustomed 
to savage life, had a very suspicious look 
about it. She trembled for the safety of his 
brains. 

After the birth of two other children, a 
daughter and another son, the father deter- 
mined to return to France, with his family. 



Life of Fremont. 27 

But death overtook him soon after he had 
formed his plan, and hurried him to 

*' That undiscovered country, from whose bourne 
No traveler returns." 

The mother of Charles was thus left, with 
very slender means, and with three small chil- 
dren dependent upon her for support and edu- 
cation. 

" Can you tell us how old Charles was, when 
his father died ?" 

Yes, he was about five years of age. The 
home of the family, for some years after this, 
was in the city of Charleston, South Carolina. 
There Mrs. Fremont used all the means she 
had at command — they were but few — for the 
education of her cliildren. 



28 Young American's 



Chap te r III. 

TIME flew on, and he hurried along with 
him, as he does everybody else, Charles Fre- 
mont. He was growing up towards manhood. 
Would you like to know what sort of a boy he 
was ? I can tell you something about this in- 
teresting period in his histor}^ I have been so 
fortunate as to fall in with two or three per- 
sons who knew him when he was a mere lad, 
and before he had finished " sowing his wild 
oats." From them, I learned some things 
which I am sure you will be delighted to hear. 

" Oh, yes, Uncle Frank; tell us all about the 
' wild oats.' " 

Ha ! ha ! I thought you would like to hear a 
few wild-oat stories. But the cultivation of 
this well-known vegetable species does not dif- 
fer much in different parts of the world. Wild 
oats are generally sowed at about the same 
season, by different youths ; and sometimes I 
think that nearly every boy cultivates more or 
less of them. 

" Yes, sir, and I'm one of the chaps that cul- 
tivate ZC55." 



Life of Fremont. 29 

Perhaps so ; we'll take it for granted just 
now, at all events. 

*' Did Charles ever get into scrapes ?" 

Scrapes! Where's the dictionary? I half 
suspect that word never found its way into the 
writings of Addison, or Blair, or Chesterfield, 
or Johnson. It is a very expressive word, 
though. Henry, see what sort of company 
Webster makes scrape associate with. 

" This is w^hat he says, sir : ' Difficulty, per- 
plexity, distress ; that which harasses ;' and he 
gives the authority of Macaulay for the use of 
the word." 

Pretty good. I don't see but the chap is in- 
troduced into the best society. 

*' But I hadn't quite finished what Webster 
says about the word." 

Well, let us have the rest. 

" He wands up by telling us that it is ' a low 
word.' " 

Indeed ! after having quoted it from a writer 
so correct and pure in the use of the English 
language as Thomas B. Macaulay ? Well, I 
don't know that we can get the word into de- 
cent society, after all. But, to answer your 
question, Charles was not in the habit of — 

I declare I don't see but I shall be obliged to 

3* 



30 Young American's 

use the word ; I can't think of any other ; let 
US use it under protest^ as business men say — 
Charles was not much in the habit of getting 
into scrapes. His mischief — for they told me 
he was mischievous sometimes — was of the in- 
nocent kind, for the most part. He seldom 
harmed anybody by it. 

I must tell you of one little incident which 
occurred before he was a very large boy. 
Among the lads at the school which he attend- 
ed, was one smaller than the rest, and of a com- 
paratively feeble frame. In his childhood he 
had been dangerously ill for a long time ; and 
this illness had made him frail and weak in after 
life. Now, one of the boys in school loved to 
tease this little fellow. It was a singular taste, 
wasn't it ? I never could see how one strong 
boy could take delight in abusing a weaker 
one. I want to be charitable, I am sure. But 
when I see a boy show such a spirit as this, 
for my life I can't help thinking there must 
certainly be something very wrong, either with 
his head or his heart. 

Charles, one day, saw this bad boy abuse his 
smaller companion most shamefully, and his 
noble soul resented the insult. 

'* George," said he, in tones that certainly 



Life of Fremont. 31 

sounded as if he were in earnest, *' you had 
better not do that acrain." 

o 

*' Who are you ?" said George, tauntingly. 
" I guess I shan't ask you how to behave my- 
self. You attend to your affairs, and I'll attend 
to mine." 

And he struck the poor little boy so hard a 
blow that he fell, and hurt his forehead severe- 
ly. In a moment Charles seized the cowardly 
boy, and though he struggled hard to free him- 
self, gave him such a whipping as entirely cured 
him of this abusive habit. 

It was while Charles was attending school in 
Charleston, that a gentleman, thinking he saw 
in the youth some evidence of more than ordi- 
nary genius, took a kind interest in his welfare, 
and helped him in his efforts to climb the hill 
of science. This gentleman was Mr. John W. 
Mitchell, a distinguished lav/yer of Charleston. 
He took Charles into his office, with the inten- 
tion, I believe, of making a lawyer of him. 
While residing under Mr. Mitchell's roof, he 
was treated with the utmost kindness. I am 
assured by a lady who was well acquainted 
both with Charles and the family of his bene- 
factor, that the youth could not have been 
treated v/ith more tenderness by Mr. Mitchell 



S'2 Young American's 

and his wife if he had been their own son. 
There is a story afloat — and I have seen it il- 
lustrated by a very graphic picture — that 
Charles was always required to take his meals 
at a side-table, as if he were not quite as good 
as the rest of the family. Now, this is a very 
nice little story, and the picture is a very pret- 
ty picture. But the story has not a particle of 
truth in it, and the artist might have been 
much better set to work than in illustrating it. 
The old house which Mr. Mitchell occupied, and 
for which he had a strong attachment, because 
it was the home of his ancestors, had a very 
small dining-room — so small, indeed, that it 
often happened, when there was company at 
the house, that there was not room at the prin- 
cipal table, and a side-table became necessary. 
It was only on such an occasion as this thut a 
side-table was used ; and then different mem- 
bers of the household — chiefly the younger por- 
tion, very likely — -took their places at this 
table without discrimination, Charles Fremont, 
of course, with the rest. 

Mr. Mitchell, as I was saying, took Charles 
into his oflice, and the youth went to work 
reading law. What kind of a lawyer he would 
have turned out to be, had he gone through 



Life of Fremoxt. 33 

the study of the profession, I cannot certainly 
tell ; though I more than suspect he would 
have made one of the very highest order, for 
those who have in them the disposition to pusli 
their way in the world which Charles Fremont 
always exhibited, are bound to succeed, and to 
succeed well, in whatever they undertake. 
There is no such word as fail in their dic- 
tionary. They don't understand the meaning 
of the term . 

But, however this may be, Charles lemained 
in the office of Mr. Mitchell only about a year. 
At the end of this period, his kind friend 
thought it was best to give his protege the advan- 
tages of a select school. At this time Dr. John 
Roberton, an excellent classical teacher, was re- 
siding in Charleston. He was very thoroughly 
educated in Scotland. To his school Mr. Mitch- 
ell sent Charles. He could not have made a 
better selection. Dr. Roberton is now living 
in Philadelphia. I have visited his house, and 
have become acquainted v/ith him. Though 
now advanced in years, his mind is as fresh 
and active as ever ; and no one can become 
familiar with him, without according to him the 
character of an accomplished gentleman, a 
thorough scholar, and a most discreet and 



34 Young American's 

successful teacher of youth. I wish you could 
see him. I know you would like him. 

" I should like to hear him talk about 
Charles." 

Well, you may be sure he would not soon 
get tired of talking on that topic. He is a 
great admirer of his former pupil, and does not 
hesitate to pronounce him far the best he ever 
knew in the w^hole course of his experience as 
a teacher. 

" I don't recollect that you told us how old 
Charles was when he first w^ent to Dr. Rober- 
ton's school." 

He w\^s about fourteen. Shall I tell you 
some things which the Doctor says about 
him ? 

" Do, Uncle Frank, if you please." 

A portion of what he says I will give in 
his own words, as they have been already 
printed. As to what I gleaned from him in dif- 
ferent conversations with him, and which I did 
not write down at the moment — I must trust 
m}^ memory for that. He says, '" In the year 
1827, a very respectable lawyer came to my 
school, I think some time in the month of Oc- 
tober, with a youth about fourteen years of 
age, of middle size, graceful in manners, rather 



Life of Fremont. 35 

slender, but well-formed, and upon the whole, 
what I would call handsome ; of a keen, pierc- 
ing eye, and a noble forehead, seemingly the 
very seat of genius. The gentleman stated 
that he found him given to study, that he had 
been about three weeks learning the Latin ru- 
diments, and (hoping, I suppose, to turn the 
youth's attention from the law to the ministry) 
had resolved to place him under my care for 
the purpose of learning Greek, Latin, and Mathe- 
matics, sufficient to enter Charleston College. 
I very gladly received him ; for I immediately 
perceived he was no common youth, as intelli^ 
gence beamed in his dark eye, and shone bright- 
ly on his countenance, indicating great ability, 
and an assurance of his future progress. I at 
once put him in the highest class, just begin- 
ning to read Caesar's Commentaries, and, al- 
though at first inferior, his prodigious memory 
and enthusiastic application soon enabled him 
to surpass the best. He began Greek at the 
same time, and read with some who had been 
long at it, in which he also soon excelled. In 
short, in the space of one year, he had with 
the class, and at odd hours with myself, read 
four books of Caesar, Cornelius Nepos, Sallust, 
six books of Virgil, nearly all Horace, and two 



36 Young American's 

books of Livy ; and in Greek, all Graeca Mi- 
nora, about the half of the first volume of 
Graeca Majora, and four books of Homer's 
Iliad. And whatever he read, he retained. It 
seemed to me, in fact, as if he learned by mere 
intuition. I was myself utterly astonished, 
and at the same time delighted, with his pro- 
gress. I have hinted that he was designed for 
the Church, but when I contemplated his bold, 
fearless disposition, his powerful inventive 
genius, his admiration of warlike exploits, 
and his love of heroic and adventurous deeds, 
^ did not think it likely he would be a minister 
of the Gospel. He had not, however, the 
least appearance of any vice whatever. On 
the contrary, he was always the very pattern 
of virtue and modesty. I could not help loving 
him, so much did he captivate me by his gen- 
tlemanly conduct and extraordinary progress. 
It was easy to see that he would one day raise 
himself to eminence. In the study of mathe- 
matics, he also made such wonderful progress, 
that at the end of one year he entered the ju- 
nior class in Charleston College triumphantly, 
while others, who had been studying four 
years or more, were obliged to take the sopho- 
more class. About the end of the year 1828, 



Life of -Fremont. 37 

I left Charleston, but I heard that he af- 
terwards highly distinguished himself as a 
scholar." 

Ever since Charles left this school, he has 
entertained the greatest respect and love for his 
former tutor. In a letter which the Doctor re- 
ceived from him not long ago, he says, " I am 
very far from either forgetting you, or neglect- 
ing you, or in any way losing the old regard I 
had for you. There is no time to which I 
go back with more pleasure than that spent 
with you, for there was no time so thoroughly 
well-spent ; and of any thing I may have learned-, 
I remember nothing so well and so distinctly, as 
what I learned of you." 

Charles used occasionally to write a scrap of 
poetry, while he was at this school. The Doc- 
tor discovered the poetic genius of his pupil by 
accident. When the Greek class read the ac- 
count which Herodotus gives of the battle of 
Marathon, his tutor perceived that the bravery 
of Miltiades and his ten thousand Greeks raised 
the youth's patriotic feelings to the highest 
pitch. He made use of certain expressions 
which, some days after that, found their way 
into some verses published in a Charleston pa- 
per. The Doctor was almost sure that his pu- 



38 Young American's 

pil was the author of the lines ; and on asking 
him the question, his suspicions were confirm- 
ed. He acknowledged the authorship of the 
fugitive, and, at the desire of his tutor, ex- 
hibited other poetical efforts, on all of which 
the marks of genius w^ere plainly stamped. 

Charles was as much in earnest when he was 
at play, as when he was engaged in learning 
his lessons. In all manner of sports, he was 
almost always the leader. Whatever he en- 
gaged in, you see he engaged in with all his 
might. 

I must tell you of a little incident in his 
history which took place w^hile he was a school- 
boy at Charleston. I want you to be acquaint- 
ed with it, because of the virtue w^hich it illus- 
trates. Charles had the misfortune to get burn- 
ed severely. In consequence of this accident, he 
was laid up for several weeks, unable to go out. 
During all this time, he suffered most intense and 
incessant pain. But the friend who relates 
this incident, and who was often with him at 
the time, tells me that he w^as wonderfully 
patient, day and night. He was not heard 
to utter one word indicative of fretfulness or 
complaint. Though scarcely able to move 
without assistance, he conversed, read and 



Life of Fremont. 39 

wrote, as if nothing whatever was the matter. 
He seemed, indeed — so says my informant — to 
have been frequently so deeply engrossed with 
his books, as scarcely to have been sensible of 
the pain. Now, isn't there something noble, 
boys, in such fortitude as this ? and don't you 
think it would be worth a great deal to you, if 
you had it ? I think so. It did more for 
Charles Fremont, than all the poultices, and 
lotions, and embrocations, and liniments, and 
salves, that ever were heard of. 

** Well, some people are born with it, I sup 
pose^ and some are not. I almost wish I had 
been made with a little more of it. I should 
think better of myself, if I could get along 
when I have the tooth-ache, or the ear-ache, 
without making such a fuss about it. I can't 
though, and there's no use in trying." 

You are mistaken. There is use in trying ; 
and if you not only try, but determine to culti- 
vate this grace — for it is a grace, and a lovely 
one, too — you'll be sure to succeed, to some 
extent at least. These virtues are not put into 
a person, full-grown and ripe, as a cook puts 
plums into a pudding. They come from germs, 
and are to be cultivated as you cultivate the 
flowers in your garden. Make a note of that, 



40 Young American's 



my friend ; and while you are putting down 
this thing in your memory, why not set down 
directly under it, the resolution that you will 
cultivate this little flower of fortitude in your 
heart, and see what j^ou can make of it ? It is 
w^orth the trouble, depend upon it. Fortitude 
is often more valuable even than courage. It 
is a modest, retiring grace. But in its effects 
it is like one of those acids, which make no dis- 
play, and which seem feeble and powerless, but 
which can gradually dissolve the hardest rocks. 
Charles' attachment to his only sister de- 
serves especial notice. He had but one sister. 
Her name was Cornelia. She died young. Her 
sun went dov^n v/hile it was yet day. But 
while she remained in the world, she seemed 

" One of the spirits chosen of heaven to turn 
The sunny side of things to human eyes." 

She was always cheerful and light of heart. 
One could hardly be in her presence without 
catching something of her joyous spirit. This 
sister, early left without a father's care, occu- 
pied a high place in Charles' affections. " It 
was beautiful in the extreme," said one of the 
friends of his boyhood to me, " this love of 
young Fremont for his sister. She shared his 



Life of Fremont. 41 

walks and his recreations with him. He assisted 
her in her studies, and performed a thousand 
little acts of affection for her." He never 
seemed to forget, in his intercourse with her — 
mark that, my little friend ; who knows but 
here is a silent reproof for you ? — that his sister 
was a girl^ and that she had the tastes, and 
feelings, and sympathies of girlhood. He didn't 
try to make her tastes bend to those of boy- 
hood. He was too considerate, and tender, and 
unselfish, for that. 

When he was about sixteen years of age, he 
was confirmed in the Protestant Episcopal 
Church. Of that church he has ever since 
been a member. His mother was a Protestant, 
and educated her three children strictly in that 
faith. 

Though young Fremont entered Charleston 
College, and went on finely with his studies 
for a while, something occurred which took off 
his mind from his books, and rendered him, 
while the spell was upon him, as dull a student 
as one can find by traveling many a mile. Can 
you guess what this something was? 

*' I guess he got punished unjustly." 

No, that wasn't it. 

" I guess he spent his time in playing cards.'*" 

4* 



42 Young American s 



No ; I shall have to tell you. I don't believe 
you could hit the right thing if you were to 
shoot at it, by way of guessing, all day. He 
was in love. That tells the whole story, as one 
of Fanny Fern's fictitious characters is in the 
habit of saying. 

"He hadn't sowed all his wild oats, had 
he?" 

So it would seem, though this is the last 
time we hear of his paying any attention to 
this branch of farming. I tell you about this 
adventure, because I v^ish to let you see the 
shadows as well as the lights of the picture we 
are dwelling upon, and because, moreover, I 
think it well that you should see what ob- 
stacles you are liable to encounter in your 
path, so as to be prepared for them. 

The person who threw such a spell around 
the young student was a girl from one of the 
West-India Islands. No doubt she was very 
beautiful. At all events, the fancy of Charles 
painted her as beautiful ; and practically this 
is the same thing with one who is completely 
under the influence of love — that deep, strong 
passion, out of which the old Romans forged 
a deity, whom they called Cupid, and to whom 
they paid divine honors. He is a very strange 



Life of Fremont. 43 



genius, and very odd and curious freaks he 
often plays with the youthful heart. I am not 
much of a philosopher. But I have many a 
time found myself in a brown study, which 
made my head ache at a furious rate, over 
those freaks, which the sly little genius so 
often plays with the heart, long enough before 
its owner has climbed the last step of boy- 
hood. I have tried hard to analyze these strange 
freaks — for freaks I suppose we must call 
them, in accordance with the notions of older, 
and, perhaps, wiser heads than ours — and to find 
out what they are made of. But I confess, I 
am all in the fog about them. After expending 
a whole magazine of philosophy upon them, I 
can't tell what relation they actually bear to 
the article which wisa and discreet judges are 
wont to label as genuine. One thing I do 
know, however : that these freaks — if freaks 
we must pronounce them — are so like the very 
thing wiiich comes to us with the genuine label 
upon it, that it would puzzle a shrewder man 
than I am to tell the two species apart. If 
they are spurious, in other words — I speak of 
man}^, not of all of them — the imitations are 
singularly well executed, to say the least. 
I have waded through this deep and rather 



44 Young American's 

turbid stream, my boys, not for the purpose of 
fishing up an apology for young Fremont. We 
may as well take it for granted, that he does 
not deserve any apology — that he listened to the 
impulses of his heart, when he ought to have 
heeded the counsels of his head. All I want 
to get out of this deep hole is, that if love be 
a great player of freaks, his freaks are very na- 
tural ones, and that Christian charity will 
scarcely allow us to stone a poor urchin to 
death, when such a freak is played on him, 
especially if we don't happen to be altogether 
** without sin" in this particular ourselves. 

*' But what did the college professors say 
about this love affair ?" 

Oh, they never knew anything about it at 
the time. They had no suspicion of the real 
cause of his neglect of study. Charles didn't tell 
them. They knew there must have been a secret 
reason for such a change on his part; but they 
couldn't find out what it was. They told him, 
however, that, unless he paid better attention 
to his studies, they would be obliged to dismiss 
him from the college. They were right, too. 
There is no doubt of that. 

" Well, did young Fremont turn over a new 
leaf?" 



Life of Fremont. 45 

No, he pored over the old one more than 
ever. You see hew a passion, if you let it 
have its own way, will, by and bye, control you 
altogether. It became necessary to dismiss 
Charles, and he was dismissed. It ought to be 
mentioned in this place, however, that some 
years after this unfortunate affair, the profes- 
sors of this same college, in view of the splen- 
did achievements of this youth, testified their 
respect for him by conferring on him the de- 
gree of Master of Arts ; and that the President 
of the institution always spoke of him as a ge- 
nius destined to achieve for himself a brilliant 
career. 



.46 Young American's 



Chapter IV. 

IT was at this point in the history of Fremont, 
that circumstances tended to make him at 
once not only an eminent scholar, but a most 
dutiful son. The death, first of his sister, and 
then of his brother, made a very serious impres- 
sion upon his mind, and awoke in him a warm 
and generous desire to be useful to his mother, 
and to do something noble for his country. 
While he still went on with his own studies, he- 
engaged in teaching others. He proved to be 
an excellent instructor, and soon became very 
popular. He Was very fond of mathematics. 
But he was apractical youth, as he has since been 
a practical man, and on this account, he gradual- 
ly turned his attention to that branch of science 
which is called civil engineering. It was well 
that he did so. In no other department of active 
life, probably, could he ever have found such 
scope for his energies as in this. It was not 
long before he became famous as a surveyor. 

When he was nineteen years old, he was 
entrusted with a task in which other eminent 



Life of Fremont. 47- 

surveyors had been engaged, and failed. There 
was a large estate to be divided among a num- 
ber of heirs. It seems, from the unsuccessful 
efforts of those really scientific men to run the 
boundary lines, that there must have been some 
serious difficulty in the way. Perhaps they 
didn't make allowance enough for the varia- 
tion of the needle, and perhaps there was some 
other reason for their failure. I don't know 
how it was. I only know that they did fail, and 
that the heirs to the estate were not a little 
embarrassed by the result. Fremont took hold 
of the work. He took hold of it with his 
keen perception, his accurate mathematical 
knowledge, and his all-conquering will. It 
was during the heat of summer. The season was 
very unhealthy. A great portion of the grounds 
to be surveyed were pervaded by a deadly mala- 
ria. But nothing daunted, the future Path- 
finder of the Rocky Mountains. He went 
resolutely on with the work. I need scarcely 
add, that he triumphed, and that the survey 
was speedily accomplished to the satisfaction 
of all parties. Young Charles added greatly 
to his reputation as a civil engineer by his suc- 
cess in this case. People began to regard him 
as a youth of extraordinary promise. 



48 Young American's 

The year 1S33 was a memorable one in the 
history of our government. General Jackson 
was then President. He was a stern, unyield- 
ing, unbending man. The people of South 
Carolina, feeling aggrieved by some of the na- 
tional laws, determined they wouldn't submit 
to them. They set up for themselves, and were 
called NuUifiers. But General Jackson declar- 
ed they should submit to the laws, and sent off 
a naval force to compel their submission. Fre- 
mont was one of the men who went on this 
mission, in the sloop of war Natchez. From 
Charleston, after the case of the NuUifiers was 
attended to, the vessel went on a cruise to 
South America, and Fremont — he is at this time 
so old that w^e must drop the name of Charles 
and use one more appropriate to manhood — re- 
mained connected with her, as teacher of mathe- 
matics. He was at this time only twenty years 
old. The cruise occupied some two years. 
After the return of Fremont to Charleston, he 
devoted himself again to the profession of a 
civil engineer. He became very successful in 
this profession. 

** Will you be kind enough to tell us exactly 
what this business is ?" 

Yes, with pleasure. The civil engineer makes 



Life of Fremont. 49 

all the surveys necessary for the construction 
of such public works as railroads and canals. 
Civil engineering 1 take to be a high grade of 
surveying. It includes such explorations as 
those which Fremont undertook across the 
Rocky Mountains. 

In the year 1838, Mr. Fremont received the 
comnjission of second Lieutenant of the Topo- 
graphical Engineers. It was not long after 
this, that he joined an expedition ordered by 
the United States Government, to explore the 
country lying between the Mississippi and the 
Missouri rivers, up to the British line. At the 
head of this expedition was Mr. Nicollet, a very 
intelligent Frenchman. It was during this ex- 
cursion that Fremont first engaged in a buffalo 
hunt. The sport was very much to his taste, 
and he engaged in it, as he always did and 
always will engage in everything else, with all 
his njight. Mile after mile, he chased the herd, 
not thinking, and, I suppose, not caring much 
where he went, so that he killed a fat buffalo 
or two. By and bye, however, he found him- 
self separated from his companions ; and as 
niglit was coming on, he thought he w^ould 
make his way to the camp. This enterprise 
proved to be by no means as easy as he sup- 



50 Young American's 

posed. He examined the country, assured 
liiroself from his map what course he ought 
to take, and rode rapidly onward. But there 
was an error in his map. It deceived him. It 
led him astray. You see now how important 
it is to have correct maps and charts, and how 
valuable were the services of Fremont, in after 
years, in making a careful survey of that vast 
district of countiy lying between the Missouri 
river and the Pacific Ocean. 

Night found Fremont still bewildered, and 
seeking for the camp of his party. His horse 
grew tired. It became necessary to dismount 
and walk. He wandered on until near mid- 
night. Then he came to a ravine, where there 
was a little stream of water ; and despairing 
of reaching his companions until daylight, he 
prepared to lie down and rest until morning. 
Just as he w^as adjusting his saddle, so that it 
would serve for a pillow, and speculating on 
his probable fate, but with a generous stock of 
hope in his bosom, he turned his eyes towards 
the heavens, and there he beheld something 
which filled him with gratitude and joy. He 
saw a rocket going up, up, up, toward the 
blue heavens, until it burst and formed a con- 
stellation of little stars. Oh, that was a pleas- 



Life of Fremont. 51 

ant sight ! The lost wanderer knew then 
where his companions were. That rocket was 
a messenger of mercy to him. It must cer- 
tainly have come from the camp ; that he 
knew. Another rocket went np, and another, 
and another. 

Now, what do you think Fremont did in this 
case? 

"I know what I would have done. I would 
have scampered off in the direction of the 
rockets, and reached the camp as soon as pos- 
sible." 

But that would not have been the wisest 
course. It was not the course Fremont took. 
He saw plainly that the camp was a great dis- 
tance off. He saw that if he started he might 
lose his way, as his only hope was in the firing 
of the rockets, and that might cease at any 
time. Besides, his horse was tired, and needed 
rest. So he placed his rifle on the ground, 
with the muzzle pointing in the direction of 
the rockets, and laying his head upon his sad- 
dle, went to sleep and slept soundly till morn- 
ing. 

He found his companions in great terror on 
his account. There was great rejoicing in that 
camp when he came in sight, in company with 



52 Young American's 



the horsemen, who had been sent out in pur- 
suit of him. You would not care much to act 
your part in such scenes as this. The bare 
thought of them makes you shudder. But, 
strange as it may appear, men learn to take 
delight in them. The excitement is pleasant 
to them. Fremont learned gradually to like 
them, until, at length, they afforded him even 
more pleasure than the smooth and tranquil 
life of a refined city. 

The results of this exploring tour were of 
great value to the country. A very large 
region, before but imperfectly known, was 
thoroughly explored. Subsequent adventurers 
have derived not a little benefit from this ex- 
ploration of Mr. Nicollet. 

It was not long after Fremont's return to 
Washington from this expedition, that he made 
the acquaintance of Miss Jessie Benton, a 
daughter of the noted Col. Thomas H. Ben- 
ton, long a Senator of the United States froni 
Missouri. He loved this lady, it w^ould seem, 
at first sight, and his subsequent acquaintance 
with her served but to increase his love. Jes- 
sie, on her part, soon learned to love the bold 
adventurer. It was not long after they first 
met, before they resolved that their future 



Life of Fremont. 53 

interests should be the same, and that they 
would live for each other. Neither Col. Ben- 
ton nor his wife were favorably disposed to- 
wards this connection. Both had the highest 
regard for Mr. Fremont ; but they thought, 
as he had no certain means for supporting a 
family, that he would not be a proper husband 
for their daughter. The lovers thought other- 
wise, however. They were married. No Pro- 
testant clergyman in the city of Washington 
would perform the ceremony. The marriage 
was clearly against the will of Col. Benton, 
and his was known to be a will not very pleas- 
ant to oppose. Here was a huge block thrown 
right in the way of the lovers. But Charles 
Fremont was not to be turned out of his 
course, when he had started, by any such 
obstacle as this. He was pretty sure he was 
right, and he went ahead. A Catholic priest 
was applied to. He had no scruples about 
marrying the couple ; and he married them, 
good and strong, it is to be presumed. 

It has been pretended that Fremont is a 
Koman Catholic, because he was married by a 
Romanist. Nothing could be more unjust or 
absurd, as you can easily see. Suppose your 
father were a Presbyterian, and a member of 

5* 



54 Young- American's 



his family should die. Suppose bis own minis- 
ter were out of town or sick, so that he could 
not attend the funeral, and your father should 
invite the Unitarian clergyman to officiate at 
the funeral. Do you think it would be just 
for anybody to call your father a Unitarian on 
that account ? You all say 710. But there 
would be quite as much justice in this case, as 
there can be in calling Fremont a Catholic, 
because, when he couldn't get anybody else to 
marry him, he got a Catholic priest to tie the 
knot. 

*' But I have heard that the Catholics make 
everybody they marry promise, solemnly, that 
they will bring up their families in the Catholic 
faith." 

When a Catholic is married to a person of 
the same faith, and the ceremony takes place 
at the altar, in tlie church, such a promise is made. 
This is called the religious ceremony of mar- 
riage. But when the ceremony is performed 
elsewhere than in the church, and the parties 
married are Protestant, no such promise is ever ex- 
acted. The ceremony, which is much the same 
as that observed by Protestants, is called a civil 
ceremony. It was according to this mode, of 
course, that John Charles Fremont and Jessie 



Life of Fremont. 55 

Benton were married. Both parties were Pro- 
testants before this event transpired, as they 
have ever been since. They have regularly at- 
tended the Protestant Episcopal church, are 
membersof that communion, and in that faith 
have had all their children baptized. 

It required more courage and heroism to 
brave that strong-willed father, than it would 
to face the cannon's mouth. Few men, beside 
Fremont, knowing as well as he did v/hat me- 
tal Mr. Benton is made of, would have pushed 
such an enterprise through. 

" Well, what did Jessie's parents do about 
the matter?" 

Just exactly what any sensible father or 
mother would do in similar circumstances. 
They made the best of the thing. They 
couldn't help it. They didn't need any reason- 
ing to become convinced of that. They made 
up their minds that they would sanction the 
marriage, and be as good and kind to their 
daughter and son-in-law as if their union had 
taken place with their assent. This w^as the 
course they took. And who will say now, 
that this was not the wisest and best course ? 

It was not long before both the father and 
the mother, as they saw Fremont rising rapidly 



56 Young American's 



in the esteem and admiration of his countymen, 
learned to look with pride upon their son-in- 
law, and confessed, that, in this instance, the 
daughter happened to be shrewder than her 
parents. 



Life of Fremont. 57 



Chapter V. 

WE come now to the first of Fremont's 
great exploring expeditions. He con- 
ducted five in all. The first extended only as far 
as the Rocky Mountains; the other four to the 
Pacific Ocean. His first expedition was under- 
taken by the government for the purpose of ex- 
ploring the western frontiers of Missouri, and of 
obtaining more definite information respecting 
the South Pass in the Rocky Mountains. He 
started in the spring of 1842. He picked up 
his men, twenty-one in number, at St. Louis. 
His guide in this, as well as in other expeditions, 
was the celebrated Kit Carson. A most remark- 
able man is this Carson. He is a native of Ken- 
tucky. Hunting and trapping were the main 
pursuits of his early life. He knows all about 
the ways of the Indians, and is never more 
at home, than when he is traversing the wilder- 
ness. He is now living in New Mexico. Col. 
Benton sent his son Randolph, then a lad of only 
twelve years, on this expedition, under the care 
of his brother-in-law. 



58 Young American's 

As the party proceeded, they had to pass 
through the country of hostile Indians. I 
must tell you of an alarm they all had one 
day. As they were wending their way through 
a little valley, a man of the company who was 
a short distance behind the rest, suddenly rode 
up to the leader, half frightened out of his 
wits — or frightened out of half his wits ; which 
shall I say ? — and shouted " Indians ! Indians !" 
as loud as he could scream. He had seen them 
distinctly, and counted twenty-seven of them. 
See how particular he was about the number. 
There were just twenty-seven. The matter look- 
ed serious. Preparations were made for defence. 
The rifles were put in order. It was an excit- 
ing time. There was to be some pretty sharp 
lighting, that was settled. Kit Carson was 
sent back to examine, stealthily, the exact state 
of the enemy. He had not been gone long, 
before he returned with the information that 
the enemies they were to encounter, consisted 
of six elk, which were grazing peacefully, 
though somewhat timidly, on the slope of the 
ravine. The matter turned out to be more 
ludicrous than dangerous. 

"Why, that man was a dunce." 

No, not exactly, he was just as wise as some 




11 ! 



Life of Fremont. 61 



boys I have known, who, when they had to 
pass by a forest in a dark night, imagined the 
old dry stumps they saw were so many hungry 
bears, ready to pounce upon them, and eat them 
up, clothes and all, in an instant. 

One day, Fremont was invited by an Indian 
chief, to attend a dog-feast ; and he went, not 
wishing to omit any opportunity for cultivating 
the friendship of the Indians. But I must let 
him tell the story about this dog-feast in hi& 
ow^n language : " The w^omen and children, '^ 
says he, " were sitting outside the lodge, and 
we took our seats on buffalo robes spread 
around. The dog w^as in a large pot over the 
fire, in the middle of the lodge, and immediate- 
ly on our arrival was dished up in large wood- 
en bowls, one of which was handed to each. 
The flesh appeared very glutinous, with some- 
thing of the flavor and appearance of mutton. 
Feeling something move behind me, I looked 
round, and found that I had taken my seat 
among a litter of fat young puppies. Had I 
been nice in such matters, the prejudices of 
civilization might have interfered with my 
tranquillity ; but, fortunately, I am not of 
delicate nerves, and continued quietly to empty 
my platter." 



62 Young American's 

What do you think of the dog-feast, boys ? 
How would you have relished such an enter- 
tainment? 

** I think I would rather have faced the can- 
non's mouth, and braved Benton's anger, both 
together." 

Oh, it isn't best to be over nice about one's 
diet. I have no doubt you would consider a 
dog-steak delicious, if you were very hungry, 
and if, too, you supposed, at the time, that you 
w^ere eating some choice game. I once made 
my dinner from a cat, supposing, while at the 
table, that I was eating kid, and the only fault 
I found with it w^as, that it didn't last long 
enough. It had to serve as a meal for three 
of us, all of whom happened to have the 
keenest possible appetites. 

" Pray, where w^as that, Uncle Frank ?" 

It was at one of the miserable inns I en- 
countered between Florence and Rome, in 
Italy. 

The party arrived at Fort Laramie, on the 
13th of July. This fort is situated on the 
Platte river, in the territory of Nebraska. Here 
young Benton was left. The journey beyond 
this point w^as deemed so full of dangers, that 
Fremont was not willing his inexperienced 



Life of Fkemont. 63 

brother-in-law should encounter them. He 
behaved like a hero, though, while he was 
in the company. He took his turn in mount- 
ing guard, at night, just like the rest of the 
party. 

The Indians were at this time in a state of 
great excitement. Difficulties had taken place 
between them and the whites. Ever so many 
stories were floating about, in the region of the 
fort, of horrid massacres and all sorts of war- 
like demonstrations. The hearts of many of 
Fremont's men quailed. Panic seized upon 
them. They dreaded to proceed farther. But 
a well-timed address on the part of their leader 
assured them. Though liberty to return was 
given to any one who was afraid, only one went 
back. How easily the spirit of a bold and re- 
solute man is infused into those who look up to 
him with respect and confidence. 

They remained at the fort about a week, and 
then prepared to push forward on their jour- 
ney. The Indians, who had professed friend- 
ship for the party, now advised them not to go 
on. Several chiefs waited upon Fremont, and 
represented to him the extreme danger of the 
undertaking. They said the party would be 
sure to fall in with their young men, who were 



64 Young American's 

*' Oil the war-path," and that the result of such 
meetings would be terrible to the whites. It 
was evident they had some selfish end in view, 
in detaining the party, although the dangers 
which they spoke of were by no means ima- 
ginary. 

The names of some of the chiefs who waited 
upon Fremont at this time, are rather curious. 
They are such as these : Otter Hat, Arrow- 
Breaker, Black Night, Bull's TaiL 

Fremont was not daunted by the speeches 
of Bull's Tail and company. He determined 
to go on, and to go on at once. He made a 
speech to the chiefs. It was taken down by 
one of the men at the time, and I will read it 
to you. It is a capital speech, I think. Mark 
how directly and plainly he utters his ideas, in 
just the way which the Indians like so well : 
" You say that you love the whites ; why have 
you killed so many already this spring ? You say 
that you love the whites, and are full of many 
'expressions of friendship to us ; but you are 
aot willing to undergo the fatigue of a few 
days' ride to save our lives. We do not believe 
what you have said, and will not listen to you. 
Whatever a chief among us tells his soldiers to 
do, is done. We are the soldiers of the great 



Life of Fremont. 65 

chief, your father. He has told us to come 
here and see this country, and all the Indians 
his children. Why should we not go ? Before 
we came, we heard that you had killed his 
people, and ceased to be his children ; but we 
came among you peaceably, holding out our 
hands. Now, we find that the stories we heard 
are not lies, and that you are no longer his 
friends and children. We have thrown away 
our bodies, and will not turn back. When you 
told us that your young men would kill us, you 
did not know that our hearts were strong, and 
you did not see the rifles which my young men 
carry in their hands. We are few and you are 
many, and may kill us all; but there will be 
much crying in your villages, for many of your 
young men will stay behind, and forget to re- 
turn with your warriors from the mountains. 
Do you think that our great chief will let his 
soldiers die, and forget to cover their graves ? 
Before the snows melt again, his warriors will 
sweep away your villages, as the fire does the 
prairie in the autumn. See ! I have pulled down 
my ivhite houses^ and my people are ready ; when 
the sun is ten paces higher, we shall be on the 
march. If you have anything to tell us, you 
will say it soon." 



66 Young American's 

There was nothing to be said on the part of 
the Indians after this. They saw that it would 
be of no use to oppose the will of such a man. 
They yielded. They even sent a man along as 
a guide. This Indian had his squaw with him, 
and she, as well as her husband, proved to be 
very useful. The squaw understood pitching 
the tents belonging to the party, which no one 
else did, and she assisted constantly in this very 
necessary occupation. 

On the 28th of July, they met a large com- 
pany of Indians, who gave a very gloomy pic- 
ture of the country over which they had just 
passed. Bunyan's Valley of the Shadow of Death 
was not more terrifically sketched, than these 
warriors sketched the very region through 
v/hich Fremont and his party were bent on 
making their way. There was no grass, not a 
blade, to be seen. Grasshoppers found it diffi- 
cult to sustain life. The very air was in a dr}^- 
ing state. Nothing but death was to be found 
there. They themselves had been starved — 
nearlj^ It was not a very bright prospect, was 
it ? The interpreter, Mr. Bissonette, who had 
made himself extremely useful to the expedi- 
tion, begged and plead with Fremont, that he 
would lead his company back, instead of urging 



Life of Fremont. 67 

them forward to cerfcaia death. '* Will you 
go, my boys?" asked their brave captain, "or 
will you stay ?" " We'll go," they answered, 
every one of them, except Bissonette. " If it 
comes to the worst," said one, " we'll eat our 
mules." Only the interpreter went back. 

On the 10th day of i^ugust, they encountered 
a beautiful lake, which Fremont describes as a 
gem set in the mountains. In attempting to 
ford it, they met with a most serious accident. 
The barometer was broken. You can imagine 
what a serious accident this was. It is by means of 
the barometer, chiefly, that the height of moun- 
tains is determined. You shall hear the particulars 
of this accident, as well as the means which 
were adopted to repair it. I want you to see 
how perseverance triumphs over all obstacles. 
*' Where there's a will there's a way." This is 
the motto w'ith a man who will not be foiled — 
and it almost works miracles. Fremont says, 
in his journal : "In crossing the stream, I met 
with a great misfortune in having my barome- 
ter broken. It was the only one. A great part 
of the interest of the journey for me was in the 
exploration of these mountains, of which much 
had been said that was doubtful and contradic- 
tory ; and now^ their snowy peaks rose majestic- 



68 Young American's 

ally before me, and the only means of giving 
tliem authentically to science — theobjectof my 
anxious solicitude by night and da}^ — was de- 
stroyed. We had brought this barometer in 
safety a thousand miles, and broken it almost 
amomr the snow of the mountains. The loss 
WHS felt by the whole camp — all had seen my 
anxiety, and aided me in preserving it. The 
height of these mountains, considered by the 
hunters and traders the highest in the whole 
range, had been a theme of constant discussion 
among them ; and all had looked forward with 
pleasure to the moment when the instrument, 
which they believed to be true as the sun, 
should stand upon the summits, and decide 
their disputes. Their grief was only inferior 
to my ovi^n. As soon as the camp was formed, 
I set about endeavoring to repair my barome- 
ter. The instrument, now useless, was a stand- 
ard cistern barometer, of Troughton's con- 
struction. The glass cistern had been broken 
about midway ; but as the instrument had been 
kept in a proper position, no air had found its 
way into the tube, the end of which had always 
remained covered. I had with me a number of 
vials of tolerably thick glass, some of which 
were of the same diameter as the cistern, and I 



Life of Fremont. 69 



spent the day in slowl}^ working on these, en- 
deavoring to cut them of the requisite length ; 
but as my instrument was a very rough file, I 
invariably broke them. A groove was cut in 
one of the trees, where the barometer was 
placed during the night, to be out of the way 
of any possible danger, and in the morning I 
commenced again. Among the powder-horns 
in the camp, I found one which w^as very trans- 
parent, so that its contents could be almost as 
plainly seen as through glass. This I boiled 
and stretched on a piece of wood to the requi- 
site diameter, and scraped it very thin, in order 
to increase to the utmost its transparency. I 
then secured it firmly in its place on the instru- 
ment, with strong glue made from a buffalo, 
and filled it with mercury, properly heated. A 
piece of skin, w^iich had covered one of the 
vials, furnished a good pocket, which was well 
secured wnth strong thread and glue, and then 
the brass cover was screwed to its place. The 
instrument was left some time to dry ; and when 
I reversed it, a few hours after, I had the satis- 
faction to find it in perfect order ; its indication 
being about the same as on the other side of the 
lake before it had been broken. Our success in 
this little incident diffused pleasure throughout 



70 Young American's 

the camp ; and we immediately set about our 
preparations for ascending the mountains." 

The position in the Rocky Mountains which 
Fremont had now reached is somewhat north 
of the South Pass, so called, and nearly oppo- 
site the great Salt Lake in Utah. It is, per- 
haps, some two hundred and fifty, miles, in an 
northerly direction from the northwest corner 
of the territory of Kansas. If you can lay 
your hands on a good map of this country — 
not an easy matter, by the way — I wish you 
would trace Fremont's entire route. 

Near this point, is the highest peak in the 
Rocky Mountains. It was determined to climb 
this peak, and the feat was accomplished about 
the middle of August. The party set out very 
early in the morning. It was not long before 
they came to a place beyond which the mules 
could not advance. So the mules were left, 
and the party went on. Their ascent was slow 
enough, and attended with the utmost difficul- 
ty. The peak — for they had not yet reached 
its foot — did not seem far off. Many thought 
they could reach it, and get back to the camp 
before night. On they clambered, expecting 
every time they crossed a ridge, to find them- 
selves at the base of the tall cliff. But they 



Life of Fremont. 71 

were disappointed. Night overtook them, be- 
fore they reached the foot of the peak. They 
made their camp for the night on the margin 
of a little lake. Near them they saw a large 
flock of mountain goats. Fremont was taken 
sick at this camp. The following morning, most 
of the party — their leader was not of the num- 
ber ; he was still too sick to walk — tried to 
reach the main peak. But none of them suc- 
ceeded. One of them slipped on the ice, and 
went tumbling down towards the plain, several 
hundred feet. Poor man ! he found a hard bed 
to alight upon. It w^as a wonder he was not 
killed. He turned several somersets in falling. 
It was an exhibition of " ground and lofty 
tumbling," on a large scale. 

The next morning after that found Fremont 
as well as ever, and ready to proceed. He took 
only four men with him. The base of the peak, 
towering up bold and steep, many hundred feet 
above them, was reached at last. Then the 
men had to scramble harder than ever. The 
rocks were not only frightfully steep, but they 
were slippery too, and the danger was, that the 
adventurer, any moment, might slide down 
the whole slope of the peak, ending his descent 
by a not very gentle contact with fragments of 



72 Young American's 



granite rock. Still they all toiled on, holding 
to the rocks with their toes and fingers, a little 
after the manner of bats, as best they could. 
At length the summit was reached. Fremont 
was the first to gain it, after which he descended 
a short distance, and the rest of the men, one 
by one, climbed to the top. There, where the 
foot of man had never before trod, where the 
snow in its virgin purity had rested for ages, on 
the highest peak in the Rocky Mountain chain, 
they unfurled the Flag of our Union, and its 
stars and stripes floated in the breeze. It w^as 
a grand achievement, I declare. If I had accom- 
plished it, I should have exulted over it, far 
more than I should, had I climbed the summit 
of Mont Blanc. 

Strange as it may seem, they found a bee on 
the summit. He seemed to have lost his reckon- 
ing ; for he alighted on the knee of one of the 
men, as if he was bewildered, and knew not 
which w^ay to go. " We pleased ourselves with 
the idea," says Fremont, "that he was the first 
of his species to cross the mountain barrier — a 
solitary pioneer, to foretell the advance of civil- 
ization. I believe that a moment's thought 
would have made us let him continue his way 
unharmed. But we carried out the law of this 




FUEMOKT ON THE HEIGHTH OF ROCK PEAK. 



; 



Life of Fremont. 75 

country, where all aniiBated nature seems at 
war, and seizing him immediately, put him in 
at least a fit place — between the leaves of a 
large book, among the flowers we had collected 
on our way." The heiglit of this peak, as 
measured by the barometer, is 13,570 feet. It 
has since been named, as it ought to have been, 
Fremonfs Feak^ and in a map published by the 
Appletons, which lies before me, this name 
is employed to designate it. 

The party got back that night to the spot 
where they had left provisions, and there they 
slept. The next day they started homeward. 
While returning through the valley of the Great 
Platte river, they encountered a very serious 
wreck. Fremont narrowly escaped the loss of 
all his papers. In fact, he came very near losing 
himself and several of his associates. They were 
descending the stream in a light india rubber 
boat which they had brought with them for such 
purposes. The water was full of rapids. Dur- 
ing the morning, they had passed three cata- 
racts with their boat, and were delighted with 
her gallant performance. The next cataract was 
a more formidaole one. It was a narrow chasm, 
between perpendicular rocks, from three to five 
hundred feet high. As the little boat bound- 



76 Young American's 



ed along down the rapids, amid the deafening 
roar of the water, they tried to steady her by 
stationing three men on a crag of the rocks, with 
a long rope made fast to the stern. But the 
force was too great. The effort was fruitless. 
The men were hurled into the stream, and nar- 
rowly escaped drowning. The party in the 
boat cleared rock after rock ; and were so 
elated with their success, that they commenced 
singing the " Canadian Boat Song." 

•' Do you think their ' oars kept time' to the 
music. Uncle Frank ?" 

I suspect not. At all events their " voices" 
didn't " keep tune," very long. They were 
right in the midst of the chorus to one of the 
stanzas, I believe, their hearts as jolly as they 
well could be, when the boat struck a rock in 
the midst of the rapids, and over she whirled 
in an instant, and all the men, and all the 
things on board were knocked into that state 
of superlative confusion, to which prmters give 
the name of pi. " Three of my men could not 
swim," says Fremont ; *' and my first feeling was 
to assist them, and save some of our effects. 
But a sharp concussion or two convinced me 
that I had not yet saved myself. A few strokes 
brought me into an eddy, and I landed on a 



Life of Fremont. 77 



pile of rocks on the left side. On the opposite 
side, against the wall, lay the boat, bottom up ; 
and Lambert was in the act of saving Desco- 
teaux, whom he had grasped by the hair, and 
who could not swim. 'Don't let go !' said he, 
as I afterwards learned, * don't let go, my bro- 
ther.' ' Never fear,' was the reply ; ' I would 
die before I would let go my hold.' For a hun- 
dred yards below, the current was covered with 
floating books and boxes, bales and blankets, 
and scattered articles of clothing ; and so strong 
was the stream, that even our heavy instru- 
ments, which were all in cases, kept on 
the surface, and the sextant, circle, and the 
long black box of the telescope, were in view at 
once. For a moment, I was somewhat dis- 
heartened. All our books, almost every re- 
cord of the journey, our journals of observa- 
tions by the barometer, all had been lost in a 
moment. But it was no time to indulge in 
regrets ; and I immediately set about endea- 
voring to save something from the wreck." 
He was favored beyond his expectations. All 
Fremont's registers were recovered, with the 
exception of one of his journals. The boat 
floated down a mile or two, when it was stop- 
ped by a fragment of rock which filled the 



7S Young American's 

channel, leaving no space sufficiently large for 
her to pass. The party climbed up the rocks, 
and were fortunate enough to rejoin the rest of 
the company, who had gone overland that 
evening, and had a very painful tramp of it. 

After several other interesting adventures, 
which we must not stop here to detail, Fre- 
mont reached St. Louis, with his entire compa- 
ny, safe and sound, on the 17th day of October. 
The tour had consumed about five months. 



Life of Fremont, 79 



Chapter VI. 

YOU might naturally suppose, that, by this 
time, Fremont would have got tired of such 
exposures as he had to encounter in the western 
wilderness, and that he would have been very 
glad to stay at home. But such was not the 
case. Just as soon as he had finished writing 
the report of his former expedition, he was off 
on another. The object of the second one was 
to connect the observations of Commodore 
Wilkes, on the Pacific, with inland surveys, 
across the Rocky Mountains. It will seem 
strange to you, yet it is a veritable fact, that 
before this expedition was effected, almost 
nothing certain was known of that vast tract 
of country, more than seven hundred miles 
square, which lies west of the Rocky Moun- 
tain range. Nor was this all. The great Basin 
in Utah, the Salt Lake, the country now set- 
tled by the Mormons — all this vast section w^as 
still unexplored. What we knew of it was 
strangely and grotesquely mixed up with all 
manner of fabulous notions. It was the cur- 



80 Young American's 

rent opinion that two large rivers issued from 
the great Salt Lake, which ran — I don't recol- 
lect where — up the slope of the Rocky Moun- 
tains, or in another equally probable direction. 
I need not tell you that no such rivers exist. 
You are too well acquainted w^ith geography, I 
doubt not, to need to be told that the Great 
Salt Lake has no outlet. The second expedition 
of Fremont, did a great deal to determine and 
indicate the main features in this part of our 
country. 

Fremont's outfit seems to have been much 
more perfect than it was on his previous expe- 
dition. His company consisted of forty persons. 
He had twelve carts, each of which was drawn 
by two mules, and a light covered spring- wagon 
carried the instruments. The expedition started 
from the town of Kansas on the 29th day of 
May. 

The route which w^as pursued at this time 
was along the line of the Kansas river, to the 
mouth of the Republican Fork, and then across 
the country to St. Vrain's Fort, which was 
reached on the 4th of July. On the 14th, at 
the point where the Boiling Spring river enters 
the Arkansas, Fremont had the happiness to 
meet his old friend, Kit Carson. 



Life of Fremont. 81 

On the 21st of August, the party reached the 
valley of the Bear river, the principal tributary 
of the Great Salt Lake. liere they found them- 
selves in the vicinity of a large village of the Sho- 
shonee Indians. " He had approached within 
something more than a mile of this village," 
the narrative of the expedition says, " when sud- 
denly a single horseman emerged from it at full 
speed, followed by another, and another, in rapid 
succession ; and then party after party poured 
into the plain, until, when the foremost rider 
reached us, all the intervening plain was occu- 
pied by a mass of horsemen, who came charging 
down upon us with guns, naked swords, lances, 
and bows and arrows — Indians entirely naked, 
and warriors fully dressed for war, with the 
long red streamers of their war bonnets reach- 
ing nearly to the ground, all mingled together 
in the bravery of savage warfare. They had 
been throw^n into a sudden tumult by the ap- 
pearance of our flag, which, among these peo- 
ple, is regarded as an emblem of hostility — it 
being usually borne by the Sioux, and the neigh- 
boring mountain Indians when they come here 
to war ; and we had accordingly been mistaken 
for a body of their enemies. A few words 
from the chief quieted the excitement ; and 



82 Young American's 

the whole band, increasing every moment in 
number, escorted us to their encampment." 

These Indians were hospitable enough ; but 
I doubt if you would have taken a fancy to the 
style of their hospitality. Very strange food 
they gave Fremont and his party to eat. One 
of the vegetables which are much in vogue 
among them, and with which they regaled their 
guests, was the Jcooyahy or tobacco root. Hear 
what Fremont says about it. To him, nothing 
in the shape of food, which any other human 
being eats, seems to come amiss. " It has a 
very strong and remarkably peculiar taste and 
odor, which I can compare to no other vegeta- 
ble that I am acquainted with, and which to 
some persons is extremely offensive. It was 
characterized by Mr. Preuss as the most horrid 
food he had ever put in his mouth ; and when, 
in the evening, one of the chiefs sent his wife 
to me with a portion which she had prepared 
as a delicacy to regale us, the odor immediately 
drove him out of the lodge. Frequently, after- 
wards, he used to beg that when those who 
liked it had taken what they desired, it might 
be sent away. To others, however, the taste 
is rather an agreeable one ; and I was afterwards 
always glad when it formed an addition to 



Life of Fremont. 83 



our scanty meals. It is full of nutriment ; and 
in its unprepared state, is said by the Indians to 
have very strong poisonous qualities, of which 
it is deprived by a peculiar process, being baked 
in the ground for about two days." 

It was on the 6th of September, that Fre- 
mont and his party first saw the Great Salt 
Lake. They were in perfect ecstacies. They 
saw it from the summit of a high point on the 
mountain range. The examination of this lake 
was one of the great objects of the exploration, 
and it was no wonder that the spirits of the 
party rose, when their eyes first beheld it. "As 
we looked eagerly over the lake," says the 
graphic narrator of the events of the expedi- 
tion, " I am doubtful if the followers of Bal- 
boa felt more enthusiasm v^hen from the heights 
of the Andes they saw, for the first time, the 
grest western ocean. It was certainly a mag- 
nificent object, and a noble terminus to this 
part of our expedition ; and^ to travelers so 
long shut up among mountain ranges, a sudden 
view over the silent expanse of waters had in it 
something sublime. Several large rocky islands 
raised their high, craggy heads out of thewaves ; 
but whether or not they were timbered was 
still left to our imagination, as the distance 



84 Young American's 

was too great to determine if the dark hues 
upon them were woodland or naked rock. Dur- 
ing the day, the clouds had been gathering 
black over the mountains, to tlie westward, and 
while we were looking, a storm burst down 
with sudden fury upon the lake, and entirely 
hid the islands from our view." 

Two days after this, they explored a large 
island in the lake. They reached it by means 
of an india rubber boat, similar to the one they 
had used on their former expedition, only it was 
found, unfortunately, that instead of its seams 
being sewed, as was the case with their former 
boat, they were merely pasted. It was a frail 
sort of a thing. The lake was very rough, and 
the situation of the party, while on board the 
little boat, was by no means a secure one. The 
island did not prove a very charming spot. It 
was more barren than they expected to find it. 
Fremont, who, with his party was expecting to 
find it exhibiting a very dift'erent aspect, named 
it Disappointment Island. From the eminence 
where the party viewed the lake, two days be- 
fore, they thought they saw a multitude of 
pelicans on the shore of the island. They were 
mistaken, and their mistake is a little ludicrous. 
Their pelicans, w^hen they approached the land, 



Life of Fremont. S5 

turned out to be, for the most part, but a row 
of salt cliffs. Still, they saw some very inter- 
esting things there. 

On this island they spent the night. " Out of 
the driftwood," the narrative states, "we made 
ourselves pleasant little lodges, open to the wa- 
ter, and, after having kindled large fires, to ex- 
cite the wonder of any straggling savage on the 
lake shores, lay down, for the first time in a long 
journey, in perfect security, no one thinking 
about his arms. The evening was extremel}^ 
bright and pleasant ; but the wind rose during 
the night, and the waves began to break heavi- 
ly on the shore, making our island tremble. I 
had not expected, in our inland journey, to hear 
the roar of an ocean surf; and the strangeness 
of our situation, and the excitement we felt in 
the associated interests of the place, made this 
one of the most interesting nights I remember 
during our whole expedition." 

In the morning, the surf was breaking heavily 
against the shore, and the party were up early. 
The lake was dark and very turbulent, and all 
the men hurried through their breakfast, and 
prepared to attempt a return to the mainland. 
It was blowing a strong gale of wind, almost 
directly off the shore, when they set out. Con- 



S6 Young American's 

sidering how frail their little boat was, and 
what an angry sea it had to contend with, it 
was astonishing that it was not rent in pieces. 
It required all the efforts of the men, to enable 
them to make any headway against the wind. 
The gale, moreover, rose wdth the sun, and there 
was danger of being blown into one of the open 
reaches beyond the island. However, after a 
very long and very toilsome use of the paddles, 
they found themselves, at length, safe on the 
shore of the mainland. There was a general 
shout among the party, when their perils in the 
little boat were over. 

*' How I should like such a life as this." 
What makes you think you would like it, 
Walter? 

' " Because there's always something stirring 
in it. I don't like smooth water. It's always 
the same thing, day after day. That tossing on 
the Salt Lake would suit me exactly." 

I am not sure but it would. I have found 
out, though, in my acquaintance with life, that 
it is one thing to hear stories about thrilling ad- 
ventures, by land and by sea, and quite another 
thing to be on the ground one's-self, and to have 
a hand in those adventures. It alters the case 
vastly. I have had a little taste myself, of this 



Life of Fremont. 87 

life amid the wilds of the west. In the spring of 
1856, 1 made a tour in the territory of Kansas, and 
pursued one of the routes, for some seventy miles, 
which Fremont took in his expedition across the 
Rocky Mountains. Now, I assure you, that 
though this section of country is by no means 
as destitute of the means of comfort as it was 
when the great explorer passed through it, I 
became satisfied, thoroughly satisfied, with a 
tour of some two weeks among the Indians. 
Such riding, such wirlking, such eating, such 
sleeping, never entered into my dreams before. 
I might learn to like such a life, perhaps, and to 
thrive on Indian fare. But I should have to 
serve a long apprenticeship, I guess. 

" Oh, Uncle Frank ! please tell us all about 
the Indians you saw." 

Well, I would, if I was spinning out a yarn 
about my ovi^n life, instead of Fremont's. As 
it is, though, I think we can't do a wiser thing 
than go on with the expedition upon which we 
started. 

" But can't we have just one story about 
the Indians you saw yourself — only one ?" 

There it is. Boys, I have often noticed, will 
jump at a story about something which the 
story-teller has seen himself^ when they will get 



88 Young American's 

half asleep over a great deal better stories 
which he tells them about things he hasii't seen. 
"Well, while Fremont and his party are resting 
on the shore of the Grreat Salt Lake, and eating 
two or three rather indifferent sandwiches, I'll 
give you an Indian story of my own : 

In passing through the country of the Dela- 
wares, on the left bank of the Kansas river, I 
stopped a few minutes at an Indian cabin. My 
real errand there — if I must say it — was one of 
curiosity. The cabin ha*d an air of some com- 
fort about it — and that is saying a good deal 
for the homes of the Delawares — it looked in- 
viting, and I thought I would go in and extend 
my acquaintance a little with the Indian char- 
acter and Indian habits. I thought, however, 
it might be well to make an errand ; for I 
didn't like to say right out, that I had come in 
just to stare at the people, and to hear them 
talk. So I called for a cup of water. The fa- 
ther of the family understood what I meant. 
He could talk a little in our language, a very 
little, and prided himself much on his knowing 
how to read, though his attainments in reading, 
as we shall see before we get through with our 
•story, were not extensive. He would send for 
some water, he said. Then he shouted, at the 






Life of Fremont. 89 

top of his voice, " Quality ! Quality ! Super- 
fine Quality !" Presently a boy appeared. It 
was evident he v^as the son of the master of 
the cabin. He was the very image of him. 
What the father said to the boy, I could only 
surmise. He addressed him in the Delaware 
dialect, with which I have but the slightest pos- 
sible acquaintance. 

The boy shortly returned from the spring, 
with a gourd full of excellent w^ater. After 
satisfying my thirst — which didn't take long, as 
it was curiosity, and not thirst, that led me 
into the cabin — I asked the elder Indian if 
he had two kinds of water on his premises. 

" No, Indian have one kind water — good, 
very good." 

" Yes, it is good," I replied. " But why 
did you say to the boy, ' get superfine quality,- 
if you don't have two kinds of water?" 

*' Ah, white man hear crooked. The boy 
yonder — I call him Superfine Quality." 
" And pray, why do you call him so?" 
'^ Why do white man call his boy John ?" 
" Because that's the boy's name." 
" Well, Indian want name for his boy, too.'* 
" But you don't mean to say that this is the 
name of the boy ?" 



90 Young American's 

" Ah, ha I white man begins to hear straight. 
Thafs it. I give my boy that name — Su- 
perfine Quality. That's his name. Good name, 
' very good.' " 

It turned out just as the simple-hearted 
man said. He took down from a shelf an old 
and empty segar-box, and pointed, with an air 
of triumph, to the words " superfine quality," 
which were printed upon it, in large capital 
letters. The mystery was explained in a mo- 
ment. The Indian thought the words indicated 
the name of the maker of the segars ; and as 
they had a rather pleasant sound to his untutor- 
ed ears, he chose them for the name of his 
boy. " A little learning is a dangerous thing," 
and the poor Indian's stock of it was very limit- 
ed, indeed. 

" Well, that is a funny name, I must say. Did 
you fall in with any Indians belonging to other 
tribes. Uncle Frank ?" 

Oil, yes, hundreds of them. Indians are 
plenty enough in Kansas, to satisfy the warm- 
est lover of savage character. I saw specimens 
of the Shawnees, the Pawnees, the Potawato- 
mies, the Sacs and Foxes, and other equally 
interesting nations. My acquaintance with 
them did not tend to increase my respect for In- 



Life of Fremont. 91 

dian character. What a thoroughly wild In- 
dian may be^ whose principal amusement is in 
taking off the scalps of other Indians, I cannot 
tell from observation. Perhaps I should ad- 
mire him — though I think not — if I should 
come to know him. But the specimens of the 
red race to be found in the eastern part of Kan- 
sas, are, with some few exceptions, about as 
uninteresting a class of people as one would be 
likely to come across, if he should hunt over 
half the world. They are extremely degraded. 
I declare it is enough to provoke one to make 
faces at Longfellow's " Hiawatha," to see these 
Indians, and learn their habits. 

The Shawnees struck me as a little less de- 
graded than their neighbors. I saw a great 
many of them, in passing through the Shawnee 
reserve. They were sufficiently civil, though 
not very highly civilized. They were all 
dressed fantastically. Red seems to be their 
favorite color ; and whenever they can get a 
rag of that hue, I judge they lay it under con- 
tribution in the adornment of their costume. 
The men very generally wear feathers in their 
hats. It makes but little difference, it would 
seem, from what bird these ornamental feath- 
ers are obtained. The turkey and the goose 



92 Young American's 

were especially taxed in supplying the feathers 
which came under my observation ; though the 
prairie-hen must have suffered somewhat, I 
should think. The women greatly outdid the 
men in fantasticals. Tin ear-rings, as large as a- 
smtiU saucer, were abundant. The most gaudy 
styles of calico formed their dress, which was 
invariubly set off with the red patches. Many, 
not all of them, had their faces besmeared with 
red paint. Their houses are generally built 
with logs, though some are formed of turf and 
mud. Every Indian family has a pack of dogs, 
and at least one pony. I spoke to a good 
many of the Shawnees ; but they had nothing 
to say in return, but some native gibberish. I 
am informed by those who live among them, 
that many of them can talk with white people, 
but that they don't choose to avail themselves 
of the privilege. 

I once stopped to dine at the house of one of 
these Indians. He gave us a pretty good din- 
ner — I'll say that for him. Near the house was 
the council-room of the nation. It so happened 
that the council were in session. We were in- 
vited to go in. We did so. The council con- 
sists of a chief and four or five counselors. 
They were sitting around a table, on which lay a 



Life of Fremont. 93 

little book (doubtless for records,) a huge arrow- 
head, a canister of tobacco, and several pipes. 
The discussions, it may be supposed, were inter- 
esting to those concerned in them. To me, they 
seemed rather dull and sleepy. Indeed, I was 
afraid that the chief, who was a portly man, 
would actually drop asleep, and I am not sure 
but he did nod once or twice. 

Don't misunderstand me now. What I have 
said about the Indians of Kansas, applies to 
the tribes generaUy. I would not have you 
suppose there are no Indians in that part of 
the country, whom you would be pleased with. 
There are such. Missionaries have been among 
them, and taught some of them how to live 
rationally, and how to die, and how to find the 
road to heaven. There are Indians in Kansas 
and on the frontiers of Missouri, who are as 
well educated and refined as any of the whites. 
What I have said of the Kansas Indians, ap- 
plies to the race, as Indians. In the Indian 
character, from personal acquaintance with it 
on the prairies of our western territory, I have 
not seen much to admire. 

But those sandwiches have been eaten long 
before this, and our party, no doubt, are on the 
march. We shall have to hurry to overtake 



94 Young American's 

them, I guess. Our Indian story was too long- 
winded. 

Would you like to know, by the way, ex- 
actly what kind of water there is in the Salt 
Lake ? I can tell you ; for Fremont has given 
us a description of it. It is quite clear ; so 
transparent, indeed, that one can see objects 
distinctly, as they lie on the bottom, at a great 
depth. A portion of the water was evaporated, 
by boiling, and some excellent salt was pro- 
duced, which was very welcome to the party, 
as their supply of this article was getting short. 
They boiled twenty quarts of the water, and it 
yielded seven quarts of salt. The salt proved 
to be but slightly combined with other sub- 
stances. Nearly ninety-eight per cent, was 
pure salt. 

On the 12th of September, Fremont's party 
left their camp at the Great Salt Lake. They 
encountered musquitoes, though the thermome- 
ter stood as low as forty-seven degrees. They 
must have been more hardy than the little 
wretches that present their bills in the lati- 
tude of New York. I suppose they were 
genuine pioneer musquitoes, accustomed to 
low temperature, as well as low fare, and all 
the discomforts and hardships of life in the 



Life of Fremont. 95 

camp. They proved to be savagely hungry, 
which I take to be an additional evidence that 
they belonged to an exploring party, and had 
been livini? on short allowance. 

Proceeding on their journey, the party found 
themselves, in a day or two, among the Snake 
Indians. Fremont bought a beautiful horse 
of one of them. He did not keep him long, 
though. His men had good appetites, with 
but little to eat. They began to look wish- 
fully at the Indian horse. He was a fine, fat 
fellow. " What capital steaks he would make !" 
the men thought. At length, they ventured to 
ask their leader if they might slaughter him. 
Fremont, though he had taken a special fancy 
to the animal, had a heart too kind to sacrifice 
the comfort of his men to his own selfish grati- 
fication, as too many people do, and readily 
consented that the horse should be sacrificed. 
Most of the men belonging to the party, ate 
their horse-steaks with a huge relish. As for 
their leader, however, and Mr. Preuss, his prin- 
cipal assistant in the capacity of engineer, they 
gave the steaks a wide berth. Their appetites 
had not yet come to this point. They got 
bravely over their squeamish notions after- 
wards, as you shall hear in due time. And 



96 Young American's 

I think it must require some boldness and de- 
cision of purpose to attack, for the first time, 
though it were cooked ever so faultlessly, a 
sirloin of horse-beef. A sea-captain once told 
me that he had been forced to eat a great many 
things which are discarded under a high state 
of civilization — that he had been reduced to 
such straits, that rats were regarded as the 
most delicious dainties ; but that he never 
could eat horse-beef with anything like the 
relish of an epicure. 

The next day after the horse-feast, the expe- 
dition met several • families of Snake Indians, 
of whom Fremont bought some of the Jcooijah, 
which I have mentioned before, the vegetable, 
you will remember, which was so offensive to 
Mr. Preuss. These Indians had piles of seeds, 
of three or four different kinds, spread out 
upon strips of buffalo-robe. From the account 
given of these savages, in Fremont's narrative, 
I am inclined to the notion, that they would 
not prove any more agreeable to me than their 
cousins in eastern Kansas. The squaws had 
just gathered a bushel of thistle-roots. These 
roots are among the articles of food which the 
Indians in this part of the country hold in high 
esteem. They grow to about the size of small 



Life of Fremont. 97 

carrots, and are shaped sornewlmt like this 
vegetable. *' The Snake Indians," says the 
narrative, "appeared to be growing in the sun- 
shine, with about as much labor as the plants 
upon which they subsisted." Their wants 
were very few and simple. And after all, my 
boys, it is astonishing into how small a com- 
pass any bodycan crowd his real wants. Our 
wants — one might aimost say — are just about 
what we choose to make them. When a man 
is as poor as a church mouse, he wants, he 
needs but a trifle to make him as happy as a 
king on his throne. As he'gets rich, however, 
he lives in better style. When he becomes 
very rich, he lives like a lord. By and bye, 
those things which were once luxuries to him, 
become articles of necessity. With his riches, 
he has made a multitude of wants. The}^ are 
real w^ants to him now, not imaginary ones. 
He can't dine on potatoes and salt any longer. 
His canvas-back ducks, his venison, his salmon, 
his hlanc mange, his Madeira wine, and all the 
little et ccteras of the table, are just as really 
necessary to his happiness now, as his hasty 
pudding was in former days. I think it isn't 
wise to make too many wants. I don't desire 

to run a tilt against an overgrown and bloated 
9 



98 Young American's 

civilization. That crusade wouldn't jiaij any 
better, I presume, than Don Quixote's contest 
with the wind-mill. But you may set this 
thing down in your note-book, that a very 
large swarm of wants is about as trouble- 
some, sometimes, as a large swarm of flies or 
locusts. 

The party were supplied with a more select 
stock of provisions, a few days after the horse 
was eaten. They were brought by some men 
whom Fremont had sent away for that pur- 
pose, from the main branch of the company. 



Life of Fremont. 99 



Chapte r VII . 

ON the 19th of September, Fremont's party 
reached Fort Hall. This place is situated 
north of the Salt Lake, and almost directl}^ 
west of Fremont's Peak. It is on the route 
to Oregon. It was determined to pursue the 
exploration during the winter ; and Fremont, 
not being willing to hazard the lives of more 
men than the enterprise absolutely required, 
and, withal, being rather short of provisions, 
persuaded some dozen of his fine fellows to go 
back. None of them went back willingly. 
All preferred to endure the hardships of the 
expedition, in company with their leader. 

The party had traveled, when they arrived 
at this point, according to careful calculations, 
made by Fremont, from the time of their leav- 
ing the frontiers of Missouri, at Westport, up- 
wards of thirteen hundred miles. Perhaps you 
may wonder they had not advanced more rapid- 
ly. But if you knew what difficulties they 
had to contend with, you would wonder how 



100 Young American's 

they could possibly have accomplished so 
much. 

In the narrative of this expedition of Fre- 
mont, as well as in subsequent ones, there is a 
great deal of information, and valuable inform- 
ation, too, which I have to jump over in this 
familiar conversation. I only mention such inci- 
dents as I think will be especially interesting 
to you. I make these frequent and long leaps, 
for fear I shall spin out my yarn to an unpar- 
donable length ; though I can't help saying, at 
the same time, that I' am obliged to omit some 
things almost, if not quite as good, as those 
which I select. Long ago, when, accidentally, 
one rainy day, while I was away from home, I 
fell in with the narrative of several of Fre- 
mont's exploring expeditions, and found myself 
unable to stop until I had read the whole 
volume through, I pronounced it one of the 
most racy and readable books of travel it had 
ever been my fortune to read. It is full of in- 
cidents, from beginning to end. But that isn't 
the chief merit of the book. Its incidents are 
well narrated. The sp^ce isn't left out of them. 
Fremont has the faculty, which so few possess, 
and which every traveler might envy, of mak- 
ing other people see with his eyes. His de- 



Life of Fremont. 101 



scriptions have no ornament about them, to 
bewilder the reader. They are very plain, very 
simple, very earnest, very truthful. They are 
neither too short to leave us in ignorance, nor 
too long to lead us into the fog. They are 
daguerreotypes of what he saw and what he 
ML 

On the 14th of November, the party reached 
the terminus of their journey westward. This 
point was Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia 
river. The grand object of the expedition — 
which, as you will recollect, was to connect 
Fremont's explorations in our v^estern terri- 
tory and across the Eocky Mountains, v^ith 
the surveys of Captain Wilkes on the Pacific 
side of the mountains — was now attained. So 
he set out on his way homeward, without a 
moment's unnecessary delay. You will readily 
perceive that he had a hazardous journey before 
him. Winter was approaching. Traveling 
among the Rocky Mountains involves no little 
hardship, and exposure, and toil, and danger, at 
any time; and in midwinter, when it is neces- 
sary to travel for days and weeks through huge 
drifts of snow, without the slightest path, the 
excursion becomes a painfully serious one. In 
such circumstances, it would be very like most 



102 Young American's 

men, it seems to me, to return on the same 
route which they pursued in going out, and 
to get out of the territory of the grim genius 
of starvation with as much speed as possible. 
But such was not Fremont's course. 

" I can't see why. It would have been my 
course, I know that." 

Ah ! I thought you were in love with adven- 
ture, a little while ago, and wanted to have a 
hand in something stirring, above all thiiigs. 

" That's the very point, sir. I do like a 
stirring life ; and it is just because I should be 
afraid w^e would all get buried np under a 
snow-bank fifty feet deep, and stop stirrings 
that if I were up the Columbia river, in the 
month of November, and had to make my way 
home, I should prefer to take the shortest cut, 
and the one I was best acquainted with. I 
shouldn't want to lay my bones among the 
Rocky Mountains." 

Well, that's sensible, if it isn't heroic ; and 
sense is as valuable a commodity, in certain 
circumstances, as heroism. Moreover, I must 
say I feel the force of your logic. It is pre- 
cisely of the same nature as that which Hudi- 
bras employed, a great many years ago, and 
which always seemed singularly forcible to me, 



Life of Fremont. 103 

when that brave knight and learned philosopher 
uttered these lines : 

" For he that fights and runs away, 
May live to fight another day." 

That's a clincher, isn't it ? I don't see 
how anybody can get clear of it. 

'* Oh, Uncle Frank, I half believe yon are 
making fun of me." 

Well, if I am, I make fun of myself at the 
same time ; for I think, if I had been in Fre- 
mont's place, I should have gone with you, and 
taken the sensible course rather than the hero- 
ic one. I never had any taste for martyrdom. 
But when would our western wilderness have 
been explored, I wonder, if men were not found 
who were willing even to risk their lives for the 
sake of exploring that wilderness, and pointing 
out the way in which the emigrant may tra- 
verse it in safety? It required more courage, 
by far, more fortitude, more power of endur- 
ance, more capacity for bearing hardships, on 
the part of Fremont, in his adventures among 
the Kocky Mountains, than were required 
of Napoleon First, in any of his wonderful 
campaigns. And I might add, too, though 
it scarcely seems necessary, that the results of 
the achievements of our hero, both to his own 



104 Young American's 

country and the world, were worth a thousand 
times more than either France or any other na- 
tion ever gained by the campaigns, splendid as 
they were, of the man w4io tried to bring a 
whole continent under his own imperial will — 
and failed. I am fond of heroes. If I were an 
idolater, as the old Greeks were, I shouldn't 
find it at all difficult to worship the first great 
hero that came along. But there are heroes 
of peace as well as heroes of war; and I revere 
those of the first, quite as much as I do those of 
the second class. In my mind, Charles Fre- 
mont, as one of the most determined, and self- 
sacrificing, and successful overland explorers 
that this country has seen, towers as high in 
true and noble heroism, and higher in moral 
grandeur, than if he had caused infinite havoc 
among the ranks of his fellow-men, and caused 
them to be mowed down like grass. 

I know, my boy — you needn't speak ; for I 
read it in your eye — that your whole soul kin- 
dles into a glow, at the recital of the deeds of 
brave men who die on the battle-field for their 
country, and, very likely, you may be ambitious 
to become a military hero ; but it would gladden 
my heart to know, that, like Charles Fremont, 
you had selected another class of heroic deeds 



Life of Fremont. 105 

than those of the warrior. It is because I would 
mspire you with admiration for the model which 
his bright career presents, and because I would 
turn your laudable desire to be a hero into a 
peaceful channel, that I am so earnest in dis- 
playing the model. 

The reason why Ff^mont did not propose to 
return by the same route which he pursued in 
proceeding westward, as you have, no doubt, 
surmised, was in order to make new explora- 
tions for the benefit of his countrymen. He 
wished to explore thoroughly the great basin 
between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra 
Nevada, That was an almost-unknown district, 
up to the time of Fremont's second expedition. 
It was known, too, (or at least believed,) that 
there was an important lake in this basin, call- 
ed the Tlamath lake ; but its locality was a mat- 
ter merely of conjecture, and, as you will see, 
its character was not at all understood. There 
was a river, too, called Buenaventura, which was 
reported to exist in those parts. Everybody, 
almost, believed in it. Reliable men, it was 
said, had seen it, and knew that it flowed 
through California or Oregon to the Pacific 
ocean. Endless reports like these, were cur- 
rent among traders and trappers, of other won- 



106 Young American's 

derful sights to be seen there — lakes, rivers, 
deserts, plains, of grotesque character. Savages, 
too, hardly above the condition of wild animals, 
were reported to abound there. You cannot 
wonder, that our adventurer should not willing- 
ly let such an opportunity pass of learning the 
certainty about this country. The party who 
were to make this long and hazardous journey, 
consisted of twenty-five persons. Provisions 
for three months had been secured at Fort 
Vancouver. Upw^ards of one hundred mules 
and horses were taken on the journey. 

I must mention a pleasant little incident, 
wdiich illustrates the scrupulous honesty of 
Fremont, and shows you that truly great men 
don't deem it beneath them to descend to little 
acts of justice. One day, not long after the 
party had commenced their homeward journey, 
they came across a set of new and handsome 
lodge-poles, very white and cleanly scraped, 
leaning against a tree, with no signs of any 
owner in sight. Now Fremont's lodge-poles 
were very nearly w^orn out. They would, in a 
short time, have been quite w^orthless. It would 
have been an easy matter to have got the poles 
without paying for them, and a man who had 
learned the bad habit of using his conscience 



Life of Fremont. 107 

as he would apiece of india rubber, could have 
found a plausible excuse to take the poles 
without paying for them, with the presumption 
that the owner would never return to look for 
them. But this was not Fremont's way of doing 
things. Of course, if he could have found the 
man who owned the poles, he would have made 
a bargain with him for them. But as that was 
out of the question, he left a generous quanti- 
ty of tobacco in payment. 

On the 10th day of December, Fremont, with 
his party, reached the Tlamath lake, so called. 
" It w^as a picturesque and beautiful spot," in 
the language of the narrative. There was a 
broad meadow, greatly resembling a lake with 
fine pasturage. But no sheet of water was to he 
found. The Tlamath lake, then, so much talked 
about, and which formed a part of the creed 
of so many both of the learned and the un- 
learned, had no existence, except at a certain sea- 
son of the year, when the river running through 
this meadow was swollen by the melting of the 
mountain snow. 

As frightful stories had been told of the hostile 
character of the Indians in these parts, Fre- 
mont deemed it best to let them know that he 
had thunder at his command. So he fired off 



108 Young American's 

a small brass howitzer which he had brought 
along with him. " It was the first time," says 
Fremont, " that our Indian guides had seen it 
discharged, and the bursting of the shell at a dis- 
tance, which was something like the second 
discharge of the gun, amazed and bewildered 
them with delight. But on the camps at a dis- 
tance, the effect was different ; for the smokes 
in the grassy lake and on its shores imme- 
diately disappeared." The savages were awed, 
as it was intended they should be. There was 
an Indian village on this grassy lake, and Fre- 
mont wished to learn something of their char- 
acter and habits. "Accordingly," he says, " the 
people w^ere gathered together, and we rode 
out towards the village in the middle of the 
lake, which one of our guides had previously 
visited. It could not be directly approached, 
as a large part of the lake appeared a marsh, 
and there were sheets of ice among the grass, 
on which our horses could not keep their foot- 
ing. We, therefore, followed the guide for a 
considerable distance along the forest, and 
then turned off towards the village, which we 
soon began to see w'as a few large huts, on the 
tops of w^hich were collected the Indians. 
When we had arrived within half a mile of the 



Life of Fremont. 109 



village, two persons were seen advancing to 
meet us ; and, to please the fancy of our guides, 
we ranged ourselves into a long line, riding 
abreast, while they galloped ahead to meet the 
strangers. We were surprised, on riding up, to 
find one of them a woman, having never before 
known a squaw to take any part in the business 
of war. They were the village chief and his v^ife, 
who, in excitement and alarm at the unusual 
event and appearance, had come out to meet 
their fate together. The chief was a very pre- 
possessing Indian, witli handsome features, and a 
singularly soft and agreeable voice, so remarka- 
ble as to attract general notice. The huts were 
grouped together on the bank of the river, 
which, from being spread out in a shallov/ 
marsh at the upper end of the lake, was collect- 
ed here into a single stream. They were 
large, round huts, perhaps twenty feet in diame- 
ter, with rounded tops, on vvhich was the door 
by v^hich they descended into the interior. 
Within, they were supported by posts and 
beams." 

These Indians seem to have been elevated 
but a very few degrees above the buffaloes and 
the wolves around them. Fremont does not 
tell us to what tribe they belonged. Perhaps 



110 Young American's 

there was no means of ascertaining. For want of 
another name he calls them Tlamaths. There 
is a tribe (or perhnps more properly, a branch of 
a tribe) in this part of the country, called Dig- 
gers^ from the fact that they subsist almost en- 
tirely on roots. Fremont, in the course of 
this expedition, encountered many of these In- 
dians. It could hardly be, I think, that the 
specimens of humanity which inhabited the 
Tlamath country belonged to this class and 
order. They are very unlike the Diggeis, in 
many respects. I must read to you another 
paragraph or tw^o from Fremont's journal, to 
give you a perfect idea of these savages. He 
says: " Almost like plants, these people seem 
to have adapted themselves to the soil, and to 
be growing on what the immediate locality 
afforded. Their only subsistence at the time 
appeared to be a small fish, great quantities of 
which, that had been smoked and dried, were 
suspended on strings about the lodge. Heaps 
of straw were lying around ; and their residence 
in the midst of grass and rushes, had taught 
them a peculiar skill in converting this mate- 
rial to useful purposes. Their shoes were made 
of straw or grass, which seemed well adapted 
for a snowv country ; and the women wore on 



Life of Fremont. Ill 

their heads a closely-woven basket, which made 
a very good cap. Among other things, were 
party-colored mats, about four feet square, 
which we purchased to lay on the snow under 
our blankets, and to use for the table-cloths. 
Numbers of singular-looking dogs, resembling 
wolves, were sitting on the tops of the huts ; 
and of these we purchased a young one, which, 
after its birthplace, was named Tlamath. The 
language spoken by these Indians is different 
from that of the Shoslionee and Columbia 
river tribes ; and otherwise than by signs 
they cannot understand each other. They 
made us comprehend that they were at war 
with the people who lived to the southward 
and to the eastward ; but I could obtain from 
them no certain information. The river on 
which they live, enters the Cascade Mountains 
on the western side of the lake, and breaks 
through them by a passage impracticable for 
travelers ; but over the mountains, to the north- 
ward, are passes which present no other obsta- 
cle than in the almost impenetrable forests. 
Unlike any Indians we had previously seen, 
these wore shells in their noses. We returned 
to our camp, after remaining here an hour or 
two, accompanied by a number of Indians." 



112 Young American's 

*' Uncle Frank, I should like to know a little 
more about the geography of some of the places 
we have been talking of. Are they in Cali- 
fornia?" 

No, my boy. They are in Oregon. We 
have been in Oregon, ever since we left the 
Great Salt Lake. That is in Utah, though 
only at the distance of tv^o days' journey from 
the boundary of Oregon. Fremont's Peak is 
just on the line between Nebraska and Oregon. 
Tlamath lake is in Oregon, though the river 
running through this curious savannah, soon 
finds its way into California, on its route west, 
to the Pacific ocean. 

'* How far is this Tlamath lake from the 
ocean ?" 

Not over a hundred miles, I think. Utah, 
which is an immense territory, large enough, 
if it were split up, to make six or eight states 
of respectable size, stretches away westward, 
almost to the Tlamath lake. From the lake, 
proceeding in a southwesterly direction, the 
northwest corner of Utah can be reached by 
traveling no more than fifty or sixty miles. 
The Mormons ought to be satisfied with the 
extent of their territory, I think. They are, 
at present, almost the only occupants of the 



Life of Fremont. 113 

whole Territory of Utah. They have got room 
enough for all the fools on the globe ; and I 
don't know but it would be a good idea to col- 
lect them all in this one district, and then build 
an immense Chinese wall around them, so that 
the rest of the world need not be pestered 
with them. Fools might as well be Mormons, 
I think, as anything else. They are sure to 
run into some folly. " Though you should 
bray a fool in a mortar," says Solomon — and 
he was a pretty good judge of all sorts of men 
— *'yet will not his foolishness depart from 

him." 

10* 



114 YoUxVG American's 



Chapter VIII. 

THE Snake Indians in this part of the coun- 
try deserve notice. They are as remark- 
able, it seems, for their similarity to the 
brutes, as their neighbors on the lake. Hear 
what Fremont says of them : " Riding quietly 
along over the snovi^, we came suddenly upon 
smokes rising among these bushes ; and, gal- 
loping up, we found two huts, open at the top, 
and loosely built of sage, which appeared to 
have been deserted at the instant; and, look- 
ing hastily around, we saw several Indians on 
the crest of the ridge near by, and several 
others scrambling up the side. We had come 
upon them so suddenly, that they had been 
well-nigh surprised in their lodges. A sage fire 
was burning in the middle ; a few baskets made 
of straw were lying about, v/ith one or two 
rabbit-skins ; and there was a little grass scat- 
tered about, on which they had been lying. 
* Tabibo — bo !' they shouted from the hills — 
a word which, in the Snake language, signifies 
white — and remained looking at us from behind 



Life of Fremont. 115 

the rocks. Carson and Godey rode towards 
the hill, but the men ran off like deer. They 
had been so much pressed, that a woman with 
two children had dropped behind a sage-bush 
near the lodge ; and when Carson accidentally 
stumbled upon her, she immediately began 
screaming in the extremity of fear, and shut her 
eyes fast to avoid seeing him. She was brought 
back to the lodge, and we endeavored in vain 
to open a communication with the men. By 
dint of presents, and friendly demonstrations, 
she was brought to calmness; and we found 
that they belonged to the Snake nation, speak- 
ing the language of that people. Eight or ten 
appeared to live together, under the same little 
shelter ; and they seemed to have no other sub- 
sistence than the roots or seeds they might 
have stored up, and the hares which live in the 
sage, and which they are enabled to track 
through the snow, and are very skillful in kill- 
ing. The skins of theso animals afford them a 
little scanty covering. Herding together among 
bushes, and crouching almost naked over a lit- 
tle snge fire, using their instinct only to procure 
food, these may be considered, among human 
beings, the nearest approach to the brute crea- 
tion. We have reason to believe, that they 



116 Young American's 

had never before seen the face of a white 
man." 

The party encountered a succession of fogs, 
day after day, in their progress southward. 
Sometimes these fogs were so dense that they 
could see only a few rods from them. Water and 
grass were scarce at some stages. Near a small 
lake, they found some most remarkable boiling 
springs. *' The basin of the larger one," says 
the narrative, " has a circumference of several 
hundred feet ; but there is at one extremity a 
circular space of about fifteen feet in diameter, 
entirely occupied by the boiling water. It 
boils up at irregular intervals, and with much 
noise. The water is clear and the spring deep. 
A pole, about sixteen feet long, was easily im- 
mersed in the centre ; but we had no means of 
forming a good idea of the depth. It was sur- 
rounded on the margin with a border of green 
grass, and near the shore the temperature of 
the water was tw^o hundred and six degrees. 
We had no means of ascertaining that of the 
centre, where the heat was greatest ; but, by 
dispersing the w^ater with a pole, the tempera- 
ture at the margin was increased to two hun- 
dred and eight degrees, and in the centre it was, 
doubtless, higher. By driving the pole towards 



Life of Fremont. 117 



the bottom, the water was made to boil up with 
increased force and noise. There are several 
other interesting places, where water and 
smoke or gas escape ; but they would require 
a long description. The water is impregnated 
w^ith common salt, but not so much as to ren- 
der it unfit for general cooking; and a mixture 
of snow made it pleasant to drink." 

The latitude of these wonderful springs is not 
far from the fortieth parallel. Their longitude 
is not given; but I venture to guess that they 
are some one hundred miles from the shore of 
the Pacific. 

The party had a great feast on salmon trout, 
one day. The fish came from a little stream 
which Fremont named, from its associations, 
the Salmon Trout river. The Indians, perceiv- 
ing how eagerly the fish were caught, brought 
great numbers of them. The trout were of ex- 
traordinary size, generally from two to four feet 
in length. There was great merriment in the 
camp, while the feast was going on. The fish 
were cooked in every possible mode. They 
were boiled, roasted, broiled, fried, baked in the 
ashes. Every few minutes an Indian would be 
seen running off v/ith the speed of the wind, to 
spear another trout for the festival. 



118 Young American's 

It was doubtful whether those Indians had 
ever seen any white people before. But it was 
evident, that if they had not been so fortunate 
themselves, they had at least had communica- 
tion with other Indians who had been in the 
company of whites; for some of them displayed, 
with a vast amount of pride, sundry brass but- 
tons and other little fancy articles having a very 
civilized appearance. 

Fremont was now looking out, every day, for 
the far-famed river Buenaventura. He was 
passing through the district in which it was 
reported to have been seen. But no such 
stream showed itself. 

On the 18th of January, it was determined 
to cross the Sierra Nevada^ into the valley of 
the Sacramento, instead of proceeding directly 
westw^ard across the Rocky Mountains. The 
reason for this decision was, that, when the 
condition of the animals was closely examined, 
their feet were found to have been so much cut 
up by the rugged rocks, that it became evident 
they were not fit for the journey w^estward. 
When this decision became known, it was hail- 
ed with joy, and diffused new life throughout 
the camp. 

Indians, in great numbers, were encountered, 



Life of Fremont. 119 



as the exploring party proceeded. Nearly all 
of them had for sale the cones of a species of 
pine-tree, abundant in that region. " In popu- 
lar language," Fremont says, " this tree may 
be called the nut-pine. The cone is oily, of 
very agreeable flavor, and presumed to be quite 
nutritious. It forms the principal article of 
food for the different tribes scattered along 
through this part of the country. By a present 
of scarlet cloth — oh, how these red people all 
like red cloth ! — -an Indian was prevailed upon to 
act as guide for two or three days." 

Almost all the tribes seemed to be at war 
with each other, though they showed a very 
pacific disposition towards the exploring party, 
•'thanks to the combined effects of power and 
kindness," as the narrative informs us. 

Near the close of the month of January, the 
brave band of explorers arrived at the Califor- 
nia mountain range, called the Sierra Nevada, 
This range had to be crossed before they could 
regale their eyes with a sight of the beautiful 
Pacific valley. 

They had scarcely lighted their fires one 
evening, when the camp was crowded with half- 
naked Indians. Fremont's description of them 
is so entertaining, that I shall not attempt to 



120 Young American's 

condense his sketch, but will give it to you en- 
tire. He says: "Some of these Indians were 
furnished with long nets in addition to bows, 
and appeared to have been out on the sage hills 
to hunt rabbits. These nets vv^ere, perhaps, thir- 
ty to forty feet long, kept upright in the 
ground by slight sticks at intervals, and were 
made from a kind of wild hemp, very much re- 
sembling in manufacture those common among 
the Indians of the Sacramento valley. They 
came among us without any fear, and scattered 
themselves about the fires, mainly occupied in 
gratifying their astonishment. I was struck by 
the singular appearance of a row of about a 
dozen, who were sitting on their haunches 
perched on a log near one of the fires, with 
their quick, sharp eyes following every motion. 
We gathered together a few of the most in- 
telligent of the Indians, and held this evening 
an interesting council. I explained to them m}^ 
intentions. I told them that we had come from 
a very far country, having been traveling now 
nearly a year, and that we were desirous sim- 
ply to go across the mountain into the country 
of the other whites. There were two who ap- 
peared particularly intelligent — one, a some- 
what old man. He told me that, before the 



Life of Fremont. 



121 



snows fell, it was six sleeps to the place where 

the whites lived, but that now it was impossi- 
ble to cross the mountain on account of the 
deep snow^ ; and showing us, as the others had 
done, that it was over our heads, he urged us 
strongly to follow^ the course of the river, which 




A MOUNTAIN BROOK. 



he said would conduct us to a lake in which 
there were many large iish. There, he said, 
were many people ; there was no snow on the 
ground; and we might remain there until the 
spring. From their descriptions, we were en- 
abled to judge that we had encamped on the 
upper water of the Salmon Trout river. It is 
hardly necessary to say that our communication 

was only by signs, as we understood nothing of 
11 



122 Young American's 

their language ; but they spoke, notwithstand- 
ing, rapidly and vehemently, explaining what 
they considered the folly of our intentions, and 
urging us to go down to the lake. Tah-ve, a 
word signifying snow, we veiy soon learned to 
know, from its frequent repetition. I told him 
that the men and the horses were strong ; that 
we would break a road through the snow ; and 
spreading before him our bales of scarlet cloth, 
and trinkets, showed him what we would give 
for a guide. It was necessary to obtain one, if 
possible ; for I had determined here to attempt 
the passage of the mountain. Pulling a bunch 
of grass from the ground, after a short discus- 
sion among themselves, the old man made us 
comprehend, that if w^e could break through 
the snow, at the end of three days we would 
come down upon grass, which he showed us 
would be about six inches high, and where the 
ground was entirely free. So far, he said, he had 
been hunting for elk, but beyond that (and he 
closed his eyes) he had seen nothing. There 
was one among them, however, who had been 
to the whites ; and, going out of the lodge, he 
returned with a young man of very intelligent 
appearance. ' Here,' said he, ' is a young man 
who has seen the whites with his own eyes ' 



Life of Fremont. 123 

And he swore, first by the sky, and then by the 
ground, that what he said was true. With a 
large present, we prevaihid upon this youth to 
be our guide. He was thinly clad; and, being 
barefoot, we gave him skins with wliich to 
make a new pair of moccasins, and to enable 
him to make the journey with us." This fel- 
low — so much as this may truthfully be said of 
his courage and his faithfulness — did actually 
start with the party, as their guide. But it 
might also be added — and this, in our account 
with him, must be set down on the other page 
of the ledger — that he got sick of the enterprise 
pretty soon, though not until many valuable pre- 
sents had been lavished upon him, and that he 
crept slyly off, like a cat, and made tracks for 
" home, sweet home," among his brother Snakes. 
These Indians have some virtues, it is charitable 
to suppose. But among the sisterhood it does 
not appear that honesty, integrity, and faithful- 
ness ever stay long enough to take off their 
bonnets and shawls. Deceit is one of the 
most prominent ingredients in Indian char- 
acter. 

The leader of this brave band well knew the 
dangers and difficulties of the course he had 
marked out for himself. He entered upon it, 



124 Young American's 



nevertlieless, with those dangers and difficulties 
staring him full in the face. 

" I wonder if his men knew anything 
about the dangers they had got to encoun- 
ter?" 

Kit Carson knew something about them ; for 
he had been in California, and learned all about 
the Sierra Nevada. The men, generally, how- 
ever had made up their minds, when it was pro- 
posed to cross over from the Basin into the 
valley of the Sacramento river, that the jour- 
ney could be pretty easily accomplished. 
The distance was not great, and they thought 
they could flounder through ever so deep 
snows, if the floundering didn't last longer than 
two or three days. 

" Well, it was better so, no doubt. I don't 
suppose their leader let them know how much 
they were deceived?" 

Yes, he did. He told them the whole truth. 
He didn't wish to mislead them, or to suffer 
them to be misled. He thought they ought to 
see clearly, at the very outset, what sufferings 
they would be liable to encounter, so that they 
might lay in a sufficient stock of courage and 
fortitude to bear them. He called his men to- 
gether, and addressed them, while they hung 



Life of Fremont. 125 

upon his words, as if he were an oracle, capable 
of deciding their fate. He represented to them 
the true character of the Sierra Nevada, He 
told them of the depth of the snow ; how they 
must feel their way without a path ; how they 
were liable to be lost ; that they might be 
overtaken by hunger and perish. He sketched 
a brighter picture for their comfort though. 
He told them of the beautiful valley of the 
Sacramento, beyond this Sierra. He pictured 
the beauty of the scenery in California. He 
assured them, that from the summit of the 
mountain before them, they could see the Sac- 
ramento and its charming valley. Sutter's 
Fort, he said, was but a short distance from 
the western slope of the Sierra^ and that there 
they would find a hospitable man, a landholder 
of great wealth, who was never happier than 
when he was entertaining strangers from the far- 
off Atlantic states. 

The people received this communication 
cheerfully and hopefully. Then began the 
work of preparation for the siege of the Sierra. 
It was a bustling time in that camp. Leggins, 
moccasins, clothing of different kinds — all were 
put into the best condition possible. Such 

patching, and darning, and sewing! How our 
11* 



126 Young American's 

mothers and sisters, who handle the needle so 
scientifically, would have laughed ! 

Provisions were found to be rather scarce. 
That was bad, but it couldn't be helped. 
" What cannot be cured must be endured," you 
know. The article of salt had given out al- 
most entirely. 

"Why, they made a whole peck of salt at 
the Great Salt Lake. What had become of all 
that, I should like to know ?" 

It was used np, and a great deal more, I 
presume. Do you remember how long it was 
since they left the Salt Lake ? 

" No, sir, not exactly — a couple of months, 
perhaps." 

A very safe shot — quite within the mark. 
It was nearer five months. Their Salt Lake 
adventures occurred during the last week in 
August, when they were making their prepara- 
tions to cross the Sierra Nevada. The world 
had whirled them around into almost the oppo- 
site sign of the zodiac. It was then the begin- 
ning of February. 

The advent of this month was inaugurated 
by a splendid dinner of roast dog, with a few 
rabbits purchased of the Indians. The toilsome 
ascent of the mountains was commenced the 



Life of Fremont. 127 

next day. The people were resolute, but they 
were serious, too, and remarkably silent. Every 
one knew tliat the enterprise which had been 
undertaken was hazardous, and that the issue 
was doubtful. I hope they looked to a greater 
Leader than their earthly one, and that they in- 
voked his blessing and his assistance. I cannot 
doubt that from those stern, and bold, and fear- 
less hearts, the pure incense of prayer — accept- 
able whenever, wherever, and however offered, 
if sincerely offered — went up to heaven. 

On they went, up the eastern slope of the 
mountain. Sometimes they traveled fifteen or 
sixteen miles, though oftener less. One day, 
several Indians followed them, in snow-shoes. 
These snow-shoes were very different from any 
I ever heard of before. They were made in the 
form of a hoop at the bottom, about a foot in 
diameter, the interior space being filled with an 
open net-work of bark. From all that appear- 
ed, these Indians were as low in the scale of 
humanity, and ignorant as those of the tribes 
living farther eastward. 

Getting through the snow was harder for the 
mules and horses than for the men. A road had 
to be trampled, before the animals could ad- 
vance. Even this precaution didn't always 



128 Young American's 

save the poor horse or mule from a pretty se- 
rious misadventure. Occasionally one plunged 
outside the trail ; and down he slipped to the 
first platform below, perhaps a hundred yards. 
Poor beast ! I wonder what thoughts occupied 
his mind, while this famous slide was going on. 
I guess he thought he had fallen upon stirring 
times, at all events. Boys living in the Atlan- 
tic states, who have such a fever for sliding 
down hill — and I know a host of such — could 
have indulged in this fine sport to their 
hearts' content, if they had been climbing 
these western mountains with Fr^emont and his 
companions. 

Two Indians joined the party on the third or 
fourth day after they set out. They said it was 
not possible to cross the mountain. But I must 
let Fremont himself tell the story about this 
interview, as I should only spoil it, if I under- 
took to tell it. He says : *'One of these In- 
dians, an old man, immediately began to ha- 
rangue us, saying that ourselves and animals 
would perish in the snow ; and that if we would 
go back, he would show us another and a bet- 
ter way across the mountain. He spoke in a 
very loud voice, and there was a singular repe- 
tition of phrases and arrangement of words, 



Life of Fremont. 129 

which rendered his speech striking and not un- 
musical. We had now begun to understand 
some words, and with the aid of signs, easily 
comprehended the old man's simple idea. 
' Rock upon rock — rock upon rock — snow upon 
snow — snow upon snow,' said he ; ' even if you 
get over the snow, you will not be able to get 
down from the mountains.' He made us the 
sign of the precipices, and showed us how the 
feet of the horses would slip, and throw them 
off from the narrow trails which led along their 
sides. Our Chinook (that w^as the guide — he 
hadn't run away yet, though he performed that 
feat soon after,) who comprehended even more 
readily than ourselves, and believed our situa- 
tion hopeless, covered his head with his blanket, 
and began to weep and lament. ' I wanted to 
see the whites,' said he ; ' I came away from 
my own people to see the whites, and I wouldn't 
care to die among them.' Seated around the 
tree, the fire illuminating the rocks, and the 
tall bolls of the pines round about, and the old 
Indian haranguing, we presented a group of very 
serious ftices." 

I don't wonder at that group of serious 
faces. I could pardon a man, in such circum- 
stances, and acquit him of unmanly weakness 



130 Young American's 



and cowardice, if his visage had assumed the 
length of a short yard-stick. 

On the 6th of the month, an advance party, 
with Fremont at their head, went on to look 
for the best place for a road in the snow, and 
to see what sort of a prospect lay before them. 
They all traveled on snow-shoes, with wiiich 
they beat down the snow, as they advanced, 
so as to make a path for the mules. In a 
inarch of about ten miles, they reached the top 
of one of the mountain peaks, from which 
point they beheld a spectacle that gladdened 
their hearts. I must let the graphic narrator 
speak again : *' Far below us, dimmed by the 
distance, was a large snowless valley, bounded 
on the western side, at the distance of about 
a hundred miles, by a low range of mountains, 
which Carson recognised with delight as the 
mountains bordering the coast. ' There,' said 
he, 'is the little mountain — it is fifteen years 
ago since I saw it ; but I am just as sure as if 
I had seen it yesterday.' Between us, then, 
and this low coast-range was the valley of the 
Sacramento, and no one w^io had not accompa- 
nied us through the incidents of our life for the 
last few months, could realize the delight with 
which at last we looked down upon it^ At the 



Life of Fremont. 131 

distance of apparently thirty miles beyond us 
were distinguished spots of prairie; and a dark 
line, which could be traced with the glass, was 
imagined to be the course of the river ; but we 
were evidently at a great height above the val- 
ley, and betv/een us and the phiins, extended 
miles of snowy fields and broken ridges of pine- 
covered mountains. It was late in the day 
when we turned towards the carnp, and it grew 
rapidly cold as it drew towards night. One of 
th e men became fatigued, and his feet began to 
freeze ; and building a fire in the trunk of a dry 
old cedar, Mr. Fitzpatrick remained with him 
until his clothes could be dried, and he was in 
a condition to come on. After a day's march 
of twenty miles, we straggled into camp, on 
after another, at nightfall, the greater num- 
ber excessively fatigued, only two of the 
party having ever traveled on snow-shoes 
before." 

The whole company moved on. The general 
depth of the snow was some five feet ; but the 
party had often to cross drifts where the depth 
was at least twenty feet. When they encamp- 
ed at night, it was necessary to set fire to bro- 
ken stumps and dead trees, in order to melt 
holes in the snow for the camp. The mercury 



132 



Young American's 




SLEEPING IN THE SNOW 



in the thermometer found its way down to 
three degrees below zero. By observation, it 
was ascertained that they had attained an ele- 
vation of upwards of eight thousand feet; 
though they were still a long way from the 
summit of the range. The glare of the snow 
rendered some of the men almost blind ; but 
they had some black silk handkerchiefs with 
them, and using these as veils, the}- managed 
partly, though not entirely, to overcome the 
annoyance. At length, they tried the experi- 
ment of using mauls in beating down the snow. 
The mauls worked well. They were generally 
xised after this. An advance party went ahead 



Life of Freiviont. 133 

every day with these mauls. Fremont was 
almost always one of the mauling party. 

You remember that little dog, Tlamath ? 
Poor fellow ! he had to fall a victim to the ap- 
petites of his new friends. Fremont was much 
attached to him, and wished to take him home, 
and to introduce him to a circle of more civil- 
ized dogs than he had been v/ont to associate 
with. Perhaps he thought that the manners 
of the little savage might be improved by 
such associations. But he yielded willingly to 
the necessity of the case. The doom of little 
Tlamath was sealed. He was slaughtered, 
cooked, and eaten. Hear wliat Fremont says 
of the dinner that day : " Godey prepared the 
dog in Indian fashion, scorching off the hair, 
and washing the skin with soap and snow, and 
then cutting it up in pieces, which were laid 
on the snow. Shortly afterwards, the sleigh 
arrived with a supply of horse-meat ; so that 
we had an extraordinary dinner — pea-soup, 
mule, and dog." 

The party began to descend the western slope 

of the Sierra Nevada about the 20th of Februa- 

Yj. A flock of wild geese passed over their 

heads. Strange sounds were the voices of these 

birds to ears so long accustomed to the silence 
12 



134 Young AxMErican's 

of the snowy mountains. The height of the 
summit of the Sierra Nevada, at the point where 
the exploring party passed, proved to be some- 
thing more than nine thousand feet. Think of 
that. The height of St. Bernard, if I recollect 
aright, is less than nine thousand feet, and the 
daring traveler, who undertakes to cross this 
pass in mid-winter, without a guide, is almost 
sure to perish in the snow. I crossed it as late 
as the month of June; and I found the snow 
then, in some places, directly in our route, ten 
or a dozen feet deep. 

The Sierra Nevada chain was found to be 
higher than the Rocky Mountains. The obser- 
vations which Fremont was able to make, show- 
ed clearly the causes for the singular phenome- 
na exhibited in the Great Basin. Two great 
mountain chains, situated but a short distance 
apart, shut up, to a great extent, the waters of 
the valley between, and prevent them from 
taking their natural course towards the Pacific 
ocean. Of course, it was easier going down the 
mountain, than it had been in scrambling up its 
eastern slope. But the party had, by no means, 
conquered all the obstacles in their way. Fre- 
mont says, in his journal, ** The tough ever- 
greens of the mountain hindered our progress, 



Life of Fremont. 135 

tore our skins, and exhausted our patience. 
Sonie of us had the misfortune to wear mocca- 
sins with parficche soles, so slippery that we 
could not keep our feet and generally crawled 
across the snow-beds. Axes and mauls were 
necessary to-day, to make a road through the 
snow. Going ahead with Carson to reconnoi- 
tre the road, we reached in the afternoon the 
river which made the outlet of the lake. Car- 
son sprang over, clear across a place where the 
stream was compressed among rocks ; but the 
pm-jlccJie sole of my moccasin glanced from the 
icy rock, and precipitated me into the river. It 
was some few seconds before I could recover 
myself in the current, and Carson, thinking me 
hurt, jumped in after me, and we both had an 
icy bath. We tried to search awhile for my 
gun, which had been lost in the fall, but the 
cold drove us out ; and making a large fire on 
the bank, after we had partially dried ourselves, 
we went back to meet the camp. We after- 
wards found that the gun had been slung under 
the ice which lined the banks of the creek. 
Using our old plan of breaking roads with al- 
ternate horses, we reached the creek in the 
evening, and encamped on a dry open place in 
the ravine. We had the pleasure to be rained 



136 Young AxMerican's 

upon this afternoon ; and grass was now our 
greatest solicitude. Many of the men looked 
badly ; and some this evening were giving out." 
No grass was found for several days. The 
anxiety of every one, on account of the animals, 
continued to increase. Fremont's favorite 
horse, named Proveau, became very weak and 
was scarcely able to drag himself along. A 
deer was discovered ; but he would not let any- 
body shoot him, doubtless having private rea- 
sons of his own against the shooting process. 
Every hour, as they slovvly proceeded, they 
hoped and expected to see a fertile valley open 
before them with grass in abundance. But as 
often were they doomed to be disappointed. 
" Near nightfall," however, on the 27th of Fe- 
bruary, so says the narrative — the party " de- 
scended into the steep ravine of a handsome 
creek some thirty feet wide. I was engaged in 
getting the horses up the opposite hill, when I 
heard a shout from Carson, who had gone ahead 
a few hundred yards. 'Life yet!' said he, as he 
came up, ' life yet ; I have found a hillside, 
sprinkled with grass .enough for the night.' 
We drove along our horses, and encamped at 
the place about dark, and there was just room 
enough to make a place for shelter on the edge 



Life of Fremont. 137 

of the stream. Three horses were lost to-day : 
Proveau ; a fine young horse from the Colum- 
bia, belonging to Charles Towns ; and another 
Indian horse, which carried our cooking uten- 
sils. The two former gave out, and the latter 
strayed off into the woods, as we reached the 
camp. The next day we lay shut up in the 
narrow ravine, and gave the animals a necessary 
holiday ; and men were sent back after the 
others. Derosier volunteered to bring up Pro- 
veau, to whom he knew I was greatly attached, 
as he had been my favorite horse on both ex- 
peditions. Carson and I climbed one of the 
nearest mountains ; the forest land still extend- 
ed ahead, and the valley appeared as far as ever. 
The pack-horse was found near the camp. 
Towns became light-headed, wandering off into 
the woods without knowing where he was 
going, and Jacob brought him back." Dero- 
sier did not come in that night. Fremont 
writes under date of the 1st of March : " We 
began to be uneasy at Derosier's absence, 
fearing he might have been bewildered in 
the woods. Charles Towns, who had not yet 
recovered his mind, went to swim in the river, 
as if it were summer, and the stream placid, 

"when it was a cold mountain torrent foaming 
12* 



138 Young American's 

among the rocks. We were happy to see Dero- 
sier appear in the evening. It appeared that 
he had been lost in the mountains, and hunger 
and fatigue, joined to weakness of body and 
fear of perishing in the mountain, had crazed 
him. The times were severe, when stout 
men lost their minds from extremity of suffer- 
ing — when horses died — and when mules and 
horses, ready to die of starvation, were killed 
for food. Yet there was no murmuring or hesi- 
tation." 



Life of Fremont 139 



Chapter IX. 

ON the 2nd of March, an event occiirrecl, 
which filled every breast with sadness and 
pain. Mr. Preuss, the scientific gentleman whose 
name has several times been mentioned in our 
conversations, got lost. The whole party were 
proceeding through the valley of a little river, 
when they came to a good place for their night's 
encampment. It was early in the evening and 
much before the time that they usually encamp- 
ed. But Fremont thought it would be better 
to stop at this convenient locality, even if an 
hour or two were lost, than it would to go on 
and run the risk of finding another eligible spot. 
Mr. Preuss was ahead of the rest of the com- 
pany. It was so early that he did not dream 
his leader would stop for the night. So he went 
on. When night arrived, and Mr. Preuss did not 
make his appearance, an air of deep solemnity 
pervaded the whole band. It seemed almost 
as if there was a funeral among those mountain 
wilds. It was too late, of course, to do any- 
thing for the lost man that night. But the en- 



140 Young American's 

campment was broken up unusually early the 
next morning, and the saddened party followed 
on in Mr. Preuss' trail. Presently they came 
to a place where it was evident he had encamp- 
ed. " Here," Fremont writes, " we shouted 
and fired guns, but received no answer ; and we 
concluded that he had pushed on down the 
stream. I determined to keep out from the 
river, along which it was nearly impracticable 
to travel with animals, until it should form a 
valley. At every step the country improved in 
beauty ; the pines were rapidly disappearing, 
and oak became the principal trees of the for- 
est. Among these, the prevailing tree was the 
evergreen oak, (which by way of distinction, 
we call the live-oaJc,) and with these occurred 
frequently a new species of oak, bearing a long, 
slender acorn, from an inch to an inch and a 
half in length, which we now began to see 
formed the principal vegetable food of the in- 
habitants of this region. In a short distance 
we crossed a little rivulet, where were two old 
huts, and near by were heaps of acorn hulls. 
The ground around about was very rich, cover- 
ed with an exuberant sward of grass ; and we 
sat down for a while in the shade of the oaks, to 
let the animals feed. We repeated our shouts 



Life of Fremoxt. 141 

for Mr. Preuss ; and this time were gratified 
with an answer. The voice grew rapidly near- 
er, ascending from the river ; but when we ex- 
pected to see him emerge, it ceased entirely. 
We had called nps ome straggling Indian — 
the first we liad met, although for two days 
back we had seen tracks — who, mistaking us 
for his fellows, had been only undeceived on 
getting close up. It would have been pleasant 
to witness his astonishment. He would not 
have been more frightened had some of the old 
mountain spirits they are so much afraid of sud- 
denly appeared in his path. Ignorant of the 
character of these people, Vv^e had now an ad- 
ditional cause of uneasiness in regard to Mr. 
Preuss. He had no arms with him, and we 
began to think his chance doubtful. We fol- 
lowed on a trail, still keeping out from the 
river, and descended to a large creek, dashing 
with great velocity over a very rocky bed, and 
among large boulders." Guns were fired ; but 
the echo of the report was the only answer. 
The next day the search was renewed, with 
equal vigor. Derosier volunteered to go back, 
in order to see if the missing man had not re- 
traced his steps. Charging him to follow the 
valley of the river, and not to venture from it 



142 Young American's 

on any account, Fremont gave his assent. He 
was not to be absent more than a day and a 
half. A cache of provisions was left for him. 

" What is a cache, Uncle Frank ?" 

That's right. Don't let any hard words lie in 
the way of your understanding what I am talking 
about. It is as necessary to us in our expedition, 
to clear away all these obstacles to our getting 
along, as it was for Fremont and his men to use 
those mauls in order to make a path. Cache 
is a French word. There is no word in our 
language which means exactly the same thing; 
else it would have been used here. But I 
can explain it, and then, when we meet it again, 
as we shall, before we get through with our 
conversations, we shall understand it as well as 
if it had been bora and brought up in this 
country. 

" And could make its boast that it was a 
genuine Native American ?" 

That's the idea. You have got it to a T. 
And, by the way, that thought jostles another in 
my brain, which was almost ready to tum- 
ble out when you spoke. It occurs to me 
that we, Americans, ought to have an especial 
liking for this word. 

" I don't see why, I'm sure.'* 



Life of Fremont. 143 

Don't you ? Well, you know we have got 
the name of being the most inveterate money- 
getters and money-lovers on the face of the 
globe ; and this foreign word, this adopted 
citizen, has almost the same sound as our cash. 
It means a place where something has been 
concealed ; and when it is used in such nar- 
ratives as those of Fremont's expeditions, it 
means a spot w4iere provisions have been con- 
cealed in the ground. 

" I see. A^ell, I am satisfied. I wasn't 
quite sure but there was some catch about 
it." 

Ha ! ha ! Pretty good. But we must trudge 
on, or we shall never catch Mr. Preuss, that's 
clear. 

Still no traces of the poor man. Some 
tracks of barefooted Indians were found, 
though, and the still-smouldering fire where 
they had cooked their fish and roots. Proceed- 
ing, the anxious party came to an Indian vil- 
lage, consisting of two or three huts. The peo- 
ple all ran off, greatly frightened, when they 
saw the white faces. The huts were low and 
slightly built, in shape like the old-fashioned 
bee-hives which we see in ancient picture- 
books. They were only some five or six feet 



144 Young American's 




">5~ 



INDIAN LODGE 15 THE SIERRA NEVADA. 

high. Near each of these huts was a crate, 
formed of interlaced branches and grass, in size 
and shape like a hogshead. They were capa- 
ble of holding from six to nine bushels. These 
were filled with acorns. In the hats were seve- 
ral baskets, containing quantities of the acorns 
roasted. While chasing a deer in this vicinity, 
the party discovered some Indians on a hill, 
some hundred yards ahead. They were hail- 
ed* But they only answered by loud and ex- 
cited talking among themselves, and the most 
violent gestures imaginable ; and pretty soon 
the}^ ran up the mountain, as flist as their legs 
would carry them. After supplying them- 
selves with half a bushel of the roasted acorns 



Life of Fremont. 145 

they had found, and leaving one of their hand- 
kerchiefs and a shirt in payment, the party 
started again in pursuit of Preuss. The narra- 
tive here becomes so interesting, that I don't 
think we can spare a word of it. I quote a 
parapraph : " Continuing, the next day, down 
the river, we discovered three squaws in a little 
bottom, and surrounded them before they could 
make their escape. They had large conical 
baskets, which they were engaged in filling 
with a small leafy plant, just now beginning to 
bloom, and covering the ground like a sward of 
grass. These did not make any lamentations, 
but appeared very much impressed with our 
appearance, speaking to us only in a whisper, 
and offering us smaller baskets of the plant, 
which they signified to us was good to eat, 
making signs, also, that it was to be cooked by 
the fire. We drew out a little cold horse- 
meat, and the squaws made signs to us that the 
men had gone out after deer, and that we could 
have some by waiting till they came in. We 
observed that the horses ate with great avidity 
the herb which they had been gathering ; and 
here, also, for the first time, we saw Indians eat 
the common grass — one of the squaws pulling 

several tufts, and eating it with apparent rel- 
13 



146 Young American's 

isli. Seeing our surprise, she pointed to the 
horses ; but we could not well understand 
what she meant, except, perhaps, that what 
was good for the one was good for the other. 
We encamped in the evening on the shore of 
the river, at a place where the associated beau- 
ties of scenery made so strong an impression 
on us, that we gave it the name of the Beautifid 
Camj)' The undulating river shore was shaded 
with the live-oaks, which formed a continuous 
grove over the country, and the same grassy 
sward extended to the edge of the water, and 
we made our fires near some large granite 
masses which were lying among the trees. We 
had seen several of the acorn caches durinor the 
day, and here there were two which were very 
large, containing each, probably, ten bush- 
els. Towards evening, we heard a weak shout 
among the hills behind, and had the plea- 
sure to see Mr. Preuss descend ino^ towards the 
camp." 

What a thrill of joy the hearts of those bold 
mountaineers must have felt, when that faint 
voice was heard. Bound together, as they 
were, by the ties of the closest friendship, they 
had mourned the loss of their companion as if 
he had been a near relative. And now, it 



LiB^E OF Fremont. 147 

seemed almost as if he had risen from the 
grave. 

" I guess they all threw up their caps, and 
gave him three hearty cheers." 

It would have been just like them ; but the 
narrative doesn't enlighten us on that point. 
It tells us, hov^ever, all about poor Mr. Preuss' 
wanderings, and you must hear that, by all 
means. Fremont goes on v/ith his thrilling sto- 
ry: " Knowing, on the day he was lost, that I was 
determined to keep the river as much as possi- 
ble, he had not thought it necessary to follow 
the trail very closely, but walked on, right and 
left, certain to find it somewhere along the river, 
searcWng places to obtain good views of the 
country. Towards sunset, he climbed down 
towards the river to look for the camp ; but, 
finding no trail, concluded that we were behind, 
and walked back till night came on, when, be- 
ing very much fatigued, he collected drift- v/ood 
and made a large fire among the rocks. The 
next day it became more serious, and he en- 
camped again alone, thinking that we must 
have taken some other course. To go back 
would have been madness, in his weak and 
starved condition, and onward towards the val- 
ley was his only hope, always in expectation 



148 Young American's 

of reaching it soon. His principal means of 
subsistence were a few roots which the hunters 
call sweet onions, having very little taste, but a 
good deal of nutriment, growing generally in 
rocky ground, and requiring a good deal of la- 
bor to get, as he had only a pocket-knife. 
Searching for these, he found a nest of big ants, 
which he let run on his hand, and stripped 
them off in his mouth. These had an agreeable, 
acid taste. One of his greatest privations was 
the want of tobacco ; and a pleasant smoke at 
evening would have been a relief which only a 
voyagcur could appreciate. He tried the dried 
leaves of the live-oak, knowing that those of 
other oaks were sometimes used as a substitute ; 
but these were too thick and would not do. On 
the 4th, he made seven or eight miles, walking 
slowly along the river, avoiding as much as 
possible to climb the hills. In little pools he 
caught some of the smallest kind of frogs, 
which he swallowed, not so much for the grati- 
fication of hunger, as in the hope of obtaining 
some strength. Scattered along the river were 
old fire-places, where the Indians had roasted 
muscles and acorns; but though he searched 
diligently, he -did not there succeed in finding 
either. He had collected firewood for the night. 



Life of Fremont. Ii9 

when he heard at some distance from the river, 
the barking of what he thought were two dogs, 
and walked in that direction as quickly as he 
was able, hoping to find there some Indian hnt, 
but met only two wolves ; and in his disappoint- 
ment, the gloom of the forest was doubled. 
Traveling the next day, feebly, down the river, 
he found five or six Indians at the huts we visit- 
ed. Some were painting themselves black, 
and some were roasting acorns." He entered 
one of the huts. 

" I wonder how Mr. Preuss dared to do such 
a thing. How did he know but the Indians 
would have murdered him ?" 

He didn't know. There was a risk in the 
course he took, certainly. But what else could 
he have done ? He was in a starving condition ; 
and as it was not absolutely certain that his 
scalp would be taken off, he thought it wise to 
throw himself on the mercy of the savages. 
Of two evils he chose the less. " Being only 
one man" the narrative continues, "the Indians, 
did not run off, but received their strange visitor 
kindly, and gave him a good supply of roasted 
acorns. He gave them his pocket-knife in re- 
turn, and stretched out his hand to one of the 

Indians, in token of friendship. The man did 
13* 



150 Young American's 

not understand the motion, but jumped back, 
as if he thought his guest was about to lay 
hold of him. All the Indians seemed afraid 
of him, and acted as if they were not certain 
what he was. Traveling on, he came to the 
place where we had found the squaws. Here 
he discovered our fire, which was still burnings 
and the tracks of our horses. The sight gave 
him sudden life and courage." 

Ou the 7th of March, they came to a very 
neat Indian village. That mijst have been a 
treat, I fancy. The inhabitants immediately 
crowded around the white strangers, showing 
that they were not in the least afraid. Some 
of them spoke Spanish, too. That was another 
pleasant circumstance. There was still another. 
One of the men, who had a better dress on than 
the rest, informed Fremont that the river, 
through the valley of which they were proceed- 
ing, was the Rio de los Americanos^ which means 
the American river. Never did a name sound 
sweeter to their ears than this ; for American, 
in this part of the country, indicated something 
pertaining to the United States. The name 
had a home sound about it. But this was not 
all the good news they heard. The well-dress- 
ed man proved to be a cow-herd in the service 



Life of Fremont. 151 

* 

of Captain Sutter, the very man at whose hos- 
pitable house they had so long been hoping to 
supply themselves with provisions fit for a 
Christian palate. Just over the hill, but a short 
distance off, was Sutter's mansion. It was not 
long, as you may suppose, before Fremont had 
grasped the hand of the good old farmer. He 
only remained with him over night. The next 
day he went back, with that portion of the 
party who had come thus far with him, and 
commenced hunting for another portion of the 
company, who had been placed under the direc- 
tion of Mr. Fitzpatrick some time previously, 
and who had to travel at a slower rate, as they 
were encumbered with luggage. On the second 
day, after leaving Sutter's, the two divisions 
met, a fev/ miles below the forks of the Ameri- 
can river. "A more forlorn and pitiable sight," 
says Fremont, " than they presented, cannot 
well be imagined. They were all on foot — each 
man, weak and emaciated, leading a horse or 
mule as weak and emaciated as himself. 
They had experienced great difficulty in de- 
scending the mountains, made slippery by rains 
and melting snows, and many horses fell over 
precipices, and were killed ; and with some 
were lost the iiaclcs they carried. Among these 



152 Young American's 

♦ 

was a mule with the plants which we had col- 
lected since leaving Fort Hall, along a line of 
two thousand miles' travel. Out of sixty-seven 
horses and mules, with which we commenced 
crossing the Sierra, only thirty-three reached 
the valley of the Sacramento, and they only in 
a condition to be led along. Mr. Fitzpatrick 
and his party, traveling more slow^ly, had been 
able to make some little exertion at hunting, 
and had killed a few deer. The scanty supply 
was a great relief to them ; for several had been 
made sick by the strange and miwholesome 
food w^iich the preservation of life compelled 
them to use. We stopped and encamped as 
soon as we met ; and a repast of good beef, ex- 
cellent bread, and delicious salmon, which I 
had brought along, was their first relief from 
the sufferings of the Sierra, and their first intro- 
duction to the luxuries of the Sacramento. It 
required all our philosophy and forbearance to 
prevent 2?Ie?Wj from becoming as hurtful to us 
now, as scarcity had been before." 

*' Before we go any further, can we hear a 
little about Captain Sutter ? It seems odd that 
he should have gone away from civilization, and 
taken up wdth a hermit's life away out in Cali- 
fornia." 



Life of Fremont. 153 

Captain Sutter formerly lived in the State of 
Missouri. Like many other American youths, 
he was of a roving disposition, and fond of ad- 
venture. Li the year 1838, by hook and by 
crook — there was a good deal of crooh about it — 
he found himself in the valley of the Sacramen- 
to, alone, in the midst of a wilderness. He ob- 
tained, on very easy terms, a grant of land from 
the Mexican government, and went to work 
farming on a large scale. He has now some 
thirty or forty men in his employ. There are 
large quantities of gold on his place ; and the 
working of the mines has greatly increased the 
value of his estate. 

The exploring party were sadly in want of 
supplies at this stage of their progress. They 
were destitute of provisions, of equipments, 
of horses, of mules, of almost everything neces- 
sary for their outfit. More than nine months 
had elapsed, it should be recollected, since 
they had left the frontiers of civilization. Near- 
ly all this time they had been in motion. It is 
not strange that everything which could be ex- 
hausted or worn out, was by this time missing. 
It was only strange, one would think, that the 
men themselves, as well as their horses and 
saddles, were not worn out and missin«:. Their 



154 Young American's 



wants were the cause of a good deal of stir in 
the region of Sutter's. Mules, horses, and cat- 
tle, were to be collected. There was a horse- 
mill on the estate ; and that was kept running, 
day and night, to supply flour. The black- 
smith had his hands full in making horse-shoes, 
and bridle-bits, and all sorts of iron implements 
necessary to the expedition. Pack-saddles, 
ropes, bridles, harnesses, and many other 
things, " too numerous to mention," as the 
country retailer of dry-goods says in his adver- 
tisements, had all to be procured ; and the ut- 
most dispatch was employed in procuring 
them. The delay, which this outfit rendered 
necessary, afforded an excellent opportunity 
for Fremont and his men to enjoy a season of 
rest, which they were in great need of. It re- 
quired, however, only some ten days to com- 
plete the equipment, at the end of which time 
Fremont was off again, at the head of his brave 
band. He had secured an ample stock of pro- 
visions ; and when he left the fort, and turned 
his face homeward, he had one hundred and 
thirty horses and mules, and thirty head of cat- 
tle, including cows for milking. Captain Sutter 
also furnished an Indian boy, who had been 
trained as a cow-herd, to take charge of the cattle. 



Life op Fremont. 155 

The route which Fremont had marked out 
for hin:iself, was first to follow the valley of the 
San Joaquin river, to a pass nearly at its head. 
This, of course, would take him out of a direct 
line some five hundred miles. But as there 
was no valuable scientific object to be attained 
by recrossing the Sierra Nevada, in the latitude 
where he crossed it before, he determined to 
keep out of the snow-banks as long as it was 
practicable. He had another reason, too, for 
this course. He wished to explore another sec- 
tion of the country, and to make himself famil- 
iar with it. From the pass at the head of the 
San Joaquin, the route determined upon was in 
a southwesterly direction to the " Spanish 
trail," which was the route of the caravans 
from the southern part of California to Sante 
F6. From the pass to this trail was one hun- 
dred and fifty miles. The trail was to be fol- 
lowed through a country for the most part a 
barren desert, until it turned to cross the Colo- 
rado river ; then the course was to be towards 
a pass in the Rocky Mountains, at the head of 
the Arkansas. It was computed that a distance 
of more than two thousand miles had to be 
traveled, in pursuing this route, before that 
pass could be reached. I am thus particular in 



156 Young American's 

sketching the proposed route of Fremont, be- 
cause I think, especially if you can refer to a 
correct map of California, New Mexico, and 
Kansas, that such a sketch will help you in un- 
derstanding the movements of the party, as we 
follow their route homeward. 

Traversing the valley of the San Joaquin, the 
explorers encountered something to excite their 
wonder or admiration every day. Now they 
came across strange Indians ; then half a dozen 
elks ; and then deer, and antelopes, and wolves. 
The last-mentioned chaps proved themselves to 
be decidedly wolfish. They sustained the char- 
acter of their race remarkably well. The 
young antelopes couldn't run very f\ist ; and 
the wolves, who could run fast, amused them- 
selves by racing after and killing the poor little 
slow-footed creatures. Some forty or fifty In- 
dians, a little farther removed from the scale of 
the brute creation, I should judge, than the 
Snakes and the Tlamaths, presented themselves 
to the party, and offered to trade. Their stock 
consisted of otter skins, bread made from 
acorns, and several kinds of fish. 

The time approached, when the beauties of 
the California slope of the Sierra were to be 
exchanged for the toils, and hardships, and expo- 



Life op Fremont. 157 

sures of the mountains. What a contrast be- 
tween the tv/o scenes I " One might travel 
the world over," writes Fremont, " vv^ithout 
finding a valley more fresh and verdant— more 
floral and sylvan— more alive with birds and 
animals — more bounteously w^atered— than we 
had left in the San Joaquin. Here, within a 
few miles' ride, a vast desert plain spread be- 
fore us, from which the boldest traveler turned 
away in despair." 

The *' Spanish trail" was reached not far 
from the middle of April. To this point in the 
journey, Fremont had constantly looked forward 
with great interest. 

A spicy incident occurred among the moun- 
tains. Our explorers met two Spaniards, who 
were connected w^ith a caravan proceeding to 
Sante Fe. They had, hov/ever, gone on ahead 
of the rest of the party, for some reason or 
other, with a considerable number of horses in 
their charge. Their camp was attacked one 
night by a large body of Indians, who made 
themselves masters of the horses, and drove 
them off. After listening to the story of these 
unfortunate men, Fremont determined to lend 
them such assistance as would be necessary in 

recovering the horses. Carson and Godey vol- 
14 



158 Young American's 

unteered their services in pursuing the thieves ; 
and they, with one of the Spaniards, gave 
chase. They were all three well armed, and, 
withal, had as generous a stock of courage as 
ammunition. The Spaniard soon returned, his 
horse having failed. The other two continued 
the pursuit of the Indians. We must now let 
Fremont do the speaking : " In the afternoon 
of the next day, a war-whoop was heard, such 
as Indians make when returning from a victo- 
rious enterprise ; and soon Carson and Godey 
appeared, driving before them a band of horses, 
recognized by one of the Spaniards to be part 
of those they had lost. They informed us, 
that after the Spaniard left them, they contin- 
ued the pursuit alone, and towards night- fall 
entered the mountains, into which the trail led. 
After sunset, the moon gave light, and they 
followed the trail by moonshine until late in the 
night, when it entered a narrow defile, and was 
difficult to follow. Afraid of losing it in the 
darkness of the defile, they tied up their horses, 
struck no fire, and lay down to sleep, in si- 
lence and in darkness. Here they lay from 
midnight until morning. At daylight they re- 
sumed the pursuit, and about sunrise discover- 
ed the horses ; and, immediately dismounting, 



Life of Fremont. 159 

and tying up their own, they crept cautiously 
to a rising ground which intervened, from the 
crest of which they perceived the encampment 
of four lodges close by. They proceeded qui- 
etly, and got within thirty or forty yards of 
their object, when a movement among the 
horses discovered them to the Indians. Giving 
the war-shout, they instantly charged into the 
camp, regardless of the number which the four 
lodges would imply. The Indians received 
them with a flight of arrows shot from their 
long bows, one of which passed through Godey's 
sliirt-collar, barely missing the neck. Our men 
fired their rifles upon a steady aim, and rushed 
in. Two Indians were stretched upon the 
ground, fatally pierced with bullets. The rest 
fled, except a little lad, that was captured. 
They were now masters of the camp, which 
was a pretty little recess in the mountain, with 
a fine spring, and apparently safe from all inva- 
sion. Great preparations had been made to 
feast a large party, for it was a very proper 
place to rendezvous, and for the celebration of 
such orgies as robbers of the desert would de- 
light in. Several of the best horses had been 
killed, skinned, and cut up ; for the Indians 
living in mountains, and only coming into the 



160 Young American's 

plains to rob and murder, make no other use 
of horses than to eat them. Large earthen 
vessels were on the fire, boiUng and stewing 
the horse-beef; and several baskets, containing 
fifty or sixty pairs of moccasins, indicated the 
presence or expectation of a considerable par- 
ty. They released the boy, who commenced 
his breakfast upon a horse's head, as soon as he 
found he was not to be killed, but only tied as 
a prisoner. Their object accomplished, our 
men gathered up all the surviving horses, fif- 
teen in number, returned upon their trail, and 
rejoined us, at our camp, in the afternoon of 
the same day. They had rode about one hun- 
dred miles, in the pursuit and return, and all in 
thirty hours. The time, place, object, and 
numbers considered, this expedition of Carson 
and Godey may be considered as one of the 
b'oldest and most disinterested, which the an- 
nals of western adventure, so full of daring 
deeds, can present. Two men, in a savage 
desert, pursue, day and night, an unknown 
body of Indians, into the defile of an un- 
known mountain ; attack them at night, with- 
out counting their numbers ; and defeat them 
in an instant. And for what ? To punish 
the robbers of the desert, and to avenge 



Life of Fremont. 161 

the wrongs of Mexicans whom they did not 
know." 

One day, in the early part of May, while in 
their encampment, the exploring party were 
visited by a large number of hostile Indians, 
who used insulting language, and seemed bent 
on mischief. They were the same people who 
had carried off the horses of the Spaniards. All 
of them were barefooted and nearly naked, and 
their hair was gathered up into a knot behind. 
Each one carried a bow, with thirty or forty 
arrows. It was difficult for the leader to re- 
strain his men from attacking these savages, for 
they put on very insolent airs. Still no blow 
was struck on the part of the whites. They 
held in their resentment, in obedience to their 
leader, with a curb-bit. In the evening, with 
a view of softening the enmity of these Indians, 
if possible, Fremont gave them a fatigued horse 
for a feast. They had a great merry-making 
over the poor horse. They quarreled among 
themselves, however, about the division of the 
animal, which must have taken away a little, 
one would think, from the extreme hilarity of 
the feast; because "better is a dinner of herbs, 
where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred 

therewith." These Indians belonged to the fra- 
14* 



162 



Young American's 




A DIGGER INDIAN. 



ternity of Diggers. Many of them carried long 
sticks, hooked at one end, with which they 
pull out lizards from their holes. They roasted 
and ate sundry lizards at the fires in the camp. 
At night, several animals were stolen and 
slaughtered by these Diggers. They hadn't 
any wit to spare ; but they mustered enough to 



Life of Fremont. 163 

enable them to perceive that thieving, for the 
time being, paid better than lizard-hunting and 
root-diggiDg. 

I have a sad tale to tell you next — a tale of 
blood and death. A close v^atch was kept over 
the movements of these Digger Indians ; for 
they were known to be treacherous, reckless, 
and savage in the last degree. But one day, 
contrary to the orders of Fremont, one of the 
men strayed away alone from the camp. His 
name was Tabeau. The party spent an entire 
day in their encampment, not for the purpose 
of resting, but to allow the leader to arrange a 
large number of rare and valuable plants which 
he had procured in different places all along 
his route. A mule was lost. Tabeau, who 
had charge of the animals, went back to the 
encampment of the previous day, without let- 
ting his chief know his intentions, in search of 
the missing mule. When informed of Tabeau's 
daring act, which happened near sun-set, Fre- 
mont was filled with alarm. "Not long after this 
painful disclosure was made," says Fremont in 
his journal, " a smoke rose suddenly from the 
cotton-wood grove below, which plainly told 
us what had befallen him. It was raised to 
inform the surrounding Indians that a blow had 



164 Young American's 

been struck, and to tell them to be on their 
guard. Carson, with several men well mount- 
ed, was instantly sent down the river; but they 
returned in the night without tidings of the 
missing man. They went to the camp we had 
left ; but neither Tabeau nor the mule was 
there. Searching down the*- river, however, 
they found the tracks of the mule, evidently 
driven along by the Indians, whose tracks were 
on each side of those made by the animal. After 
going several miles, they came to the mule it- 
self, standing in some bushes, mortally wounded 
in the side by an arrow, and left to die, that it 
might afterwards be butchered for food. They 
also found in another place, as they were hunt- 
ing about on the ground, after Tabeau's tracks, 
something that looked like a little puddle of 
blood." The next day, at a very early hour in 
the morning, Fremont set out himself with 
several men, in search of the missing man. He 
says: "We went to the spot where the ap- 
pearance of blood had been seen, and this, we 
perceived at once, was the spot where the poor 
man fell down and died. Blood upon the 
leaves, and beaten-down bushes, showed that 
he had got his wound about twenty paces from 
where he fell, and that he had struggled for his 



Life of Fremont. 165 

life. He had probably been shot through the 
lungs with an arrow. From the place where 
he lay and bled, it could be seen that he had 
been dragged to the river bank, and thrown 
into it." 

In May, 1S44, near the close of the month, 
the exploring party found themselves at almost 
the same point where they had been in Sep- 
tember, 1843. This point was the southern 
arm of the Great Salt Lake, called the Utah 
Lake. Before, they had made themselves fa- 
miliar with the northern part of this remarkable 
sheet of water ; now they became acquainted 
with its southern extremity. 

On the 13th of June, with a degree of joy 
which you may imagine, they stood again on 
the summit of the Rocky Mountain range, and 
could look down and see a little stream flow- 
ing towards the rising sun ! 

They had a brisk chase after a grizzly bear, 
one morning, as they were proceeding down 
the mountain. They tried to catch him with 
the lasso. 

"What is a lasso, Uncle Frank?" 

It is a long cord, something like a whip, 
with a little weisrht at the end. When it 
is throw^n skillfully, it is usually wound around 



166 Young- American's 

the legs of the animal, so that he becomes un- 
able to run. In the case of the bear, however, 
it was thrown around the neck, instead of the 
legs. But the savage fellow managed to get 
away. 

Fremont came very near having a skirmish 
with a about thirty Arapahoe Indians. He 
says: "I made them the usual presents; but 
they appeared disposed to be unfriendly, and 
galloped back at full speed to the village. 
Knowing that we had trouble to expect, I de- 
scended immediately into the bottoms of Grand 
river, which were overflowed in places, the 
river being up, and made the best encampment 
the ground afforded. We had no time to build 
a fort, but found an open place among the wil- 
lows, which was defended by the river on one 
side and the overflowed bottoms on the other. 
"We had scarcely made our few preparations, 
when about two hundred of them appeared on 
the verge of the bottom, mounted, painted, and 
armed for war. We planted the American flag 
between us ; and a short parley ended in a truce, 
with something more than the usual amount 
of presents. About twenty Sioux were with 
them — one of the man old chief, who had always 
been friendly to the whites. He informed me 



Life of Freimont. 167 

that, before coming down, a council had been 
held at the village, in which the greater part had 
declared for attacking us — we had come from 
their enemies, to whom we had, doubtless, been 
carrying assistance in arms and ammunition — 
but his own party with some few of the Arapa- 
hoes, who had seen us the previous year in the 
plains, opposed it. It will be remembered, 
that it is customary for this people to attack 
the trading parties which they meet in this 
region, considering all whom they meet on the 
western side of the mountains to be their ene- 
mies." 

The party passed Bent's Fort early in July. 
As they came into view, they were saluted with 
a display of the national flag, and by repeated 
discharges of artillery. 

But we must not dwell too long on the in- 
cidents of this expedition. On the last day of 
July, Fremont, with his company, encamped at 
the little town of Kansas, on the Missouri, 
having been absent from that place fourteen 
months. Don't you think he was glad to meet 
his family again ? and is it not quite within the 
range of probability that they were equally glad 
to welcome him home ? 



168 Young American's 



Chapter X. 

DUKINGr the remainder of 1844, and a part 
of the following year, Fremont was en- 
gaged in preparing the report of his second ex- 
pedition, and completing the maps and profiles 
of his route. This employment, as it would 
seem, was all the recreation he allowed himself 
between the end of his second and the com- 
mencement of his third expeditions ; for as soon 
as he had presented his report to the chief of 
the corps of Topographical Engineers, he w^as 
again pursuing his w^ay, through as many dan- 
gers and hardships as ever, across the Eocky 
Mountains. You remember what w^e have learn- 
ed about the Great Basin ? 

" Yes, sir ; we have learned enough to make 
us anxious to know more about it." 

Well, one object of this expedition of Fre- 
mont, was to explore this basin more thorough- 
ly than he had been able to do when he passed 
through it. Another object was to explore 
that part of Oregon and California lying con- 
tiguous to the sea coast. But still another, and, 



Life of Fremont. 16^ 

perhaps, in the mind of the chief explorer, the 
most important object, was an accurate exami- 
nation of the overland route to the Pacific. He 
had begun, by this time, to take an especial 
interest in California, and was already thinking 
of it as his future home. 

As a token of the high estimate in which the 
government, at the time, held the services of Fre- 
mont, the President conferred on him the com- 
mission of Captain of the corps of Topographi- 
cal Engineers. 

It was in the autumn of 1845, that the third 
expedition set out. This time, Fremont took 
along with him a daguerreotype apparatus^ 
which was of great service to him^ in taking 
views of interesting points on the route. 

He went out by the northern head waters of 
the Arkansas river. Then he proceeded to the 
great Salt Lake ; and thence directly across the 
Central Basin, towards California, in a route 
which he w as the first to explore. 

Several months were spent in examining the 

head waters of the great rivers which flow, 

some of them, eastward towards the Atlantic, 

and some westward towards the Pacific. When 

the party reached the Great Salt Lake, the 

country looked so familiar to them, that it al- 
15 



170 Young American's 

most seemed as if they were at home. When 
the time came for them to leave this spot, they 
left it with no little regret. They were now to 
push their way through a barren desert. Four 
men, with a horse loaded with provisions and 
water for two days, were sent on ahead, to see 
if they could find grass and water for the ani- 
mals; for you must recollect that the lives of 
these poor beasts depended entirely upon the 
springs and brooks to be found, and upon the 
facilities for grazing which were afforded. An 
Indian, not at all burdened with clothing, ac- 
companied the pioneers. If they found what 
they were looking after, they were to build a 
fire, and raise a smoke. Nearly two days had 
passed, and they did not return, nor was the 
smoke-signal discovered. Fremont began to 
have fears about their safety. So he started, 
with the whole party, after them. He waited 
until nearly sunset, hoping they would arrive, or 
that he would see the signal. But he was disap- 
pointed ; and instead of delaying until morning 
— as many men, with more discretion, judg- 
ment, and prudence, than energy, force, and de- 
termination, would have done — off he posted, 
that very evening. There was a thing to be 
done, you perceive — an important thing — and 



Life of Fremont. 171 

the sooner it was done the better. In such a 
case Fremont never hesitated, and never delay- 
ed. He went about the execution of the thing 
at once, and he threw his whole soul, for the 
time being, into the undertaking. 

"But wasn't this undertaking rather a dan- 
gerous one?" 

It was certainly not very safe. Traveling by 
night, in an unknown country, among wild 
beasts and wild Indians, is not an occupation 
that cowards would be likely to fall in love 
with. It was from necessity, with a desire to 
render assistance to his men, not from choice, 
that Fremont made this night excursion. To- 
wards morning, the Indian who had gone with 
the advance party, was met, returning home- 
ward. He had been found to know no more of 
the country than the men he attempted to lead, 
knew themselves. He turned out to have been 
a " blind leader of the blind." The advance 
party, however — so it was afterwards ascertain- 
ed — went ahead without any guide, except 
their own judgment. After a long search, 
they found a running stream and plenty of 
grass. 

A few days afterward, the expedition was 
divided into two parties. The larger one w^as 



172 Young American's 

placed under the direction of Walker, a well- 
known mountaineer, and a very successful ex- 
plorer. The course determined upon for them 
was around the base of the Sierra Nevada, by a 
route which Walker had pursued before. The 
other party, under Fremont's direction, were to 
penetrate directly through the heart of the 
desert. This party was composed of only ten 
men, a part of whom were whites, and a j)art 
Delaware Indians. 

Fremont's party traveled a week or more 
without encountering a human being, except 
Qu one occasion. Near the close of a hard day's 
journey, not finding any water, they turned in- 
to a mountainous district, and followed the dry 
bed of a stream, until they were some two thou- 
sand feet above the plain. Here they found a 
spring and abundance of grass. After supper 
was over, and as the men wero standing or sit- 
ting about the fire, they were startled by the 
appearance of a human form. It proved to be 
a woman. She was old, decrepid, and reduced 
almost to a mere skeleton. She was almost 
naked ; her long hair hung down over her face 
and shoulders ; her face w^as wrinkled, wan, 
and ghastly. She might have made a good pic- 
tare of one of the witches that Sliakespeare de- 



Life of Fremont. 173 

scribes in "Macbeth." It appeared that she 
had mistaken the camp-fire of the whites for 
one of the Indians. Her tale about her condi- 
tion was a sad one. The Indians, you know, 
are in the habit of leaving their fathers and 
mothers, when they get old and unable to take 
care of themselves, to die of hunger. This poor 
woman had become a burden to the sons she 
had reared ; and so they turned her out of their 
lodge, and sent her to wander alone among the 
mountains, where she could get no food but 
roots to eat, and where she was liable to be torn 
in pieces by wild beasts. What inhuman 
wretches — what monsters in the form of men, 
these savages are ! 

The woman was afraid of the whites, and 
was eager to get away. The men could not 
detain her long except by force. They gave 
her a generous share of the mountain sheep 
they had killed that day, and she tottered off 
with her load, as fast as her feeble limbs would 
carry her. She had not gone many yards, be- 
fore one of the men, thinkinsr she had no means 
of cooking her meat, and wishing to show as 
much kindness as he could to her, went after 
her, with a brand of fire in his hand ; but he 
could not reach her before she dodged down 



174 YouN€^ American's 

into a thicket, where, in the darkness, is wag 
impossible to find her. 

Traveling along the foot of a mountain, some 
days after this incident occurred, the party saw 
a volume of smoke rising from a little ravine, 
not a great way off. They rode up to the spot 
as cautiously as possible, when they discovered 
a single Indian on the margin of a small creek. 
He was standing before a fire, apparently " in 
deep thought," the narrative informs us. As 
his dinner was boiling in a pot hanging over 
the fire, I am inclined to think the current of 
his thoughts tended in that direction. The pot 
contained squirrels, and there were some half 
dozen of these animals, besides, lying on the 
ground near the fire. Not far off, were the In- 
dian's bow and quiver of arrows. The poor 
fellow was completely taken by surprise. He 
was hugely frightened. Still he didn't run 
away. He made the best of the matter. As 
soon as he could collect his scattered thoughts 
— they went a wool-gathering at first — he treat- 
ed his unwelcome guests in the most polite 
manner imaginable, offered them a part of his 
dinner, and made himself as agreeable as he 
knew how to be. Fremont gave him some lit- 
tle presents, for which he seemed heartily grate- 



Life of Fremont. 175 

ful, when the party left him and went on their 
way. 

They had not proceeded far, however, be- 
fore the keen eye of their leader discovered 
that his Delawares had taken a fancy to the 
handsome bow and arrow^s they had seen lying 
on the ground, by the side of the little pile of 
squirrels, and had walked off with them. When 
Fremont told these Delawares that they had 
probably taken away the only means of that 
lone Indian's support, and that, without his bow 
and arrows, he would be almost sure to die of 
starvation, they went back v^^illingly and re- 
stored the articles. 

The party reached a lake lying at the foot of 
the Sierra Nevada chain. This was the place 
where the two divisions were to meet. There, 
as they were turning a point on the lake shore, 
a band of some twelve or fourteen Indians ap- 
peared suddenly in view. They came along, 
one by one — in '^Indian file," as that mode of 
marching is called — with their heads bent for- 
ward, and their eyes fixed upon the ground. 
They didn't say a word. They passed on as 
silently as if they were a funeral party, and 
didn't lift their eyes from the ground for a 
moment. The whites, too, quite willing to 



176 Young Americano's 

avoid an encounter with the savages, humored 
their whim, and passed in silence. There seems 
to have been an understanding on both sides, 
which, if it had been expressed at all, would 
probably have been uttered in something like 
this form : " If you'll let us alone, we'll let you 
alone." Soon after this strange meeting, the 
two divisions of the exploring party were again 
joined into one. 

By this time, winter had come on in earnest. 
The party were nearly out of provisions, and 
novgame was to be found. The heavy snows 
were beginning to block up the passes in the 
Sierra. It was considered too hazardous, tak- 
ing into account their want of provisians, as 
well as the lateness of the season, to attempt 
a direct passage over the mountains with the 
entire company at this time ; so it was arranged 
that Walker should continue with the main 
branch of the party along the foot of the Sierra, 
in a southerly direction, and enter the valley of 
the San Joaquin by some one of the low and 
least formidable passes at its head, while Fre- 
mont, with a few men, proceeded in a nearly 
direct course across the range, to Sutter's 
Fort. There he knew he could get supplies 
of horses and cattle^ when he intended to join 



Life ©f Fremont. 177 

tfee oth^r brao<ih of the party as soon as possi- 
ble. 

He and his brave band of men encountered 
hardships without number. But they perse- 
vered. The Sierra Nevada was again crossed, 
and Sutter's Fort w^as reached- 

After obtaining the needed supplies from 
Captain Sutter, the party started off to meet 
the division under Walker. In pursuing this 
journey, which, as you need scarcely foe told, 
was in a southerly direction, they discovered, 
one day, the fresh trail of a party of Horse-Thief 
Indians. Immediately, four men were sent for- 
ward to reconnoitre. The rest of the j)arty 
followed, at their ordinary pace. Not long 
after, the rear party reached a spot which they 
were sure was a favorite camping-ground of 
these horse-thieves ; for the bones of horses 
whitened the ground in all directions. Here, 
as grass and w^ater, so necessary to an encamp- 
ment, were abundant, the exploring party de- 
termined to make their camp for the night ; 
and they immediately set themselves about the 
task of unfastening their horses, and making 
ready for a night's rest. While they were en- 
gaged in this manner, they heard what seemed 
to be the barkiao: of an untold multitude of 



178 Young American's 

dogs. You know how, sometimes, alt the dogs 
in a village will spend a whole moonlight night 
in barking. I wish I could get back the 
hours I have been forced to lie av/ake, listen- 
ing to such grand concerts. Well, the barking 
which our exploring party heard that evening, 
we may suppose, was much after the style of 
these nocturnal choruses. The noise, how- 
ever, as it soon appeared, was not made by 
dogs. 

" Ah, it was made by wolves. I thought 
so." 

No, it was made by women and children. 
Fremont suspected, from their screaming, what 
was the matter : and it turned out that he was 
right in his suspicions. It was evident that the 
men who had been sent on in advance, had fall- 
en in with some unfriendly Indians, and had 
had a fight with them. These squaws were 
screaming at such a doleful rate, on account 
of 'the loss of some of their friends. The sad- 
dles were thrown upon the horses in an instant, 
and, leaving four men to guard the camp, Fre- 
mont, with the rest of the party, rode ofFin the 
direction from which the sounds proceeded. 
They went on about half a mile, when, crossing 
a little ridge, they came at once in sight of seve- 



Life of Fremont. 179 

ral hundreds of these horse-thieves. They 
were advancing on each side of a knoll. On 
the top of this knoll were the men who had 
been sent on to reconnoitre. A cluster of trees 
and rocks made a pretty good defence for 
these Spartans, and they were prepared to 
give the Indians who attacked them a warm 
reception. 

The Indians had nearly surrounded the knoll, 
and were about to capture the horses, when 
Fremont and his party dashed up to the spot. 
The horse-thieves were attacked, and one of 
their number killed. Night soon came on, 
and the party went back to the camp. Multi- 
tudes of Indians were scattered through the 
woods, in every direction, and were very 
noisy and insolent, during the whole night. 
Some of them spoke Spanish tolerably well. 
"Wait," they said — '■'- es^erate carrajos — wait 
until morning. There are two big villages 
close by. We have sent for the chief. He'll 
be down before morning, with all the peo- 
ple. You will all die. None of j^ou shall go 
back. We'll get all your horses." 

The camp was strictly guarded all night. 
As soon as it was dark, each man crept to his 
post. The squaws and children retreated to- 



180 YouNGf Americanos 

wards the mountains. Nothing serious occur- 
red that night, notwithstanding the threatening 
aspect of affairs. As soon as it was light, all 
the Indians took good care to get out of the 
reach of the rifles of the whites. At sunrise, 
not a man of them was to be found. Their 
courage, which seemed so active and formida- 
ble the evening before, had all passed ofF in 
harmless volleys of words. Here was a fine 
illustration of the old proverb, '* that barking 
dogs don't bite.'' If a man or boy have a no- 
tion that he is brimful of heroism, I wouldn't 
recommend him to make a great deal of noise 
about it ; because, if he does, just as likely as 
not, some day, when he comes to need it, he'll 
find that it has all oozed out of his mouth, and 
dropped off the end of his tongue. Talking 
overmuch about one's own courage, is as bad 
policy as it w^ould be to leave the cork out of a 
bottle of soda w^ater. 

In searching after his companions, Fremont^ 
wdth his brave little band, had again to encoun- 
ter high and rugged mountains. He found him- 
self, at one time, hemmed in by the deep snows 
of midwinter, and only escaped with great dif- 
ficulty, and after extreme suffering. He lost all 
his cattle. 



Life of Fremont. 181 



You may wonder how it happened that the 
two divisions of the exploring party were so 
long finding each other, when, according to the 
arrangement, at the time they separated, they 
anticipated meeting at a much earlier day. I'll 
tell you how it happened. Walker's party 
were instructed to cross the Sierra by a certain 
pass. It was afterwards ascertained that there 
were two passes which went by the same 
name. Neither Fremont nor Walker was aware 
of the fact, at the time they made the rendez- 
vous. Walker, with his party, went over the 
pass which was familiar to him, the only one 
he knew by the name. But Fremont, having 
had another pass in his mind, when his instruc- 
tions were given, looked in the wrong place for 
his companions. Neither party was at fault. 
The mistake was unavoidable — one belonging 
to a class which all the sagacity in the world 
cannot prevent. Such mistakes will occur ; 
they must occur, for the simple reason that 
the human understanding, at the best, is but an 
imperfect machine, liable to go wrong some- 
times, like a poor watch. It always will be so, 
until some man turns up who knows every- 
thing ; and I think we shall have to wait a good 
while before we see his face. People may 



1S2 Young American's 

croak over the class of mistakes to which I 
have pomted, as much as they please. They 
may boast ever so much about their own 
sagacity in the premises, after time has brought 
these mistakes to light. But they can't hinder 
them. Even their ov^^n astonishing wisdom— 
which, by the way, has a trick of coming into 
their heads at a late hour, as some people al- 
ways come to church — coupled with the sagest 
possible shakes of the head, and endless assur- 
ances that they " knew it would be so," cannot 
hinder such occurrences. 

The two divisions finally met. Both had 
had some thrilling experiences among the snow 
of the Sierra Nevada. 

We come now to an entirely new act in the 
drama of Fremont's life. We shall presently 
see him surrounded by circumstances which 
brought his military skill into action. Califor- 
nia, at this time, as you will recollect, perhaps, 
w^as under the government of Mexico. Fre- 
mont, presuming that, if he came into the 
country at the head of his men, he might excite 
some suspicion, proceeded alone to Monterey, 
waited upon the principal officers of the gov- 
erment, explained to them his plans, and de- 
sired permission to proceed through the country 



Life of Fremont. 183 

with his party, for the purpose of exploring it, 
according to the instructions he had received at 
Washington. His request was granted. One 
of the officers whom Fremont waited upon at 
this time, and who gave his assent, with the 
rest, was General Castro, the commandant of 
the military force in California. This gentle- 
man, it would seem, changed his mind after the 
interview, with respect to the propriety of al- 
lowing this expedition to pass through the coun- 
try, or else he had some new instructions from 
a higher officer; for he set himself about the 
business of driving the party out of California, 
at all hazards. 

Fremont knew nothing, however, of any such 
plan, until some time afterwards. He went down 
to San Jose, where his men had been staying 
while he went to Monterey, and started north- 
ward on his expedition. On the 3d day of 
March, when he was within some twenty-five 
miles of Monterey, with his men, what should 
he com e across but a new obstacle in his path, 
in the shape of a Mexican officer, at the head of 
eighty dragoons ! Here was a pretty state of 
things. But perhaps all this parade was got 
up in honor of the advent of the United States 
exploring expedition. The officer hands a let- 



184 Young American's 



ter from Castro to Fremont. Now we shall 
have the mystery solved. The letter is short, 
and to the point. It is a military order. It 
tells this strong-willed mari that he must make 
off with himself and his men, at once. Fremont 
was greatly surprised at this sudden turn of 
affairs. It w^as quite a novel obstacle thrown 
in his way, while pressing on with the darling 
projects of his heart. But with him there 
could be but one course. That was — being 
pretty sure that he was right — to "go ahead." 
It had been his method, in all his encounters 
amid the mountain snows, v/hen an obstacle 
presented itself, and he could neither remove 
it nor go around it, to go over it. Here was a 
ledge of this character. He couldn't get it out 
of the way; hecouldn't get around it — so he 
determined to go over it. 

"But I can't see what in the world he 
could do with that little handful of men. Didn t 
you say there were eighty of those Mexicans ?" 

Yes, and Fremont had reason to believe, that 
if he disobeyed Castro's insolent order, he would 
soon have a still larger number to contend with. 
I declare I thought, when I first read the ac- 
count of the course which Fremont adopted 
on this occasion, that it was not often paral- 



Life of Fremont. 1S5 

leled in heroic daring, in the thrilling annals of 
our great struggle for independence. The first 
thing he did, was to march with his little 
company to the summit of a high hill, called 
Hawk's Peak. Here he could see a great dis- 
tance, in every direction. The Mexicans, as he 
perceived by the aid of his spy-glass, were mak- 
ing preparations to attack him. 

Mr. Larkin, who at that time was our con- 
sul at Monterey, succeeded in getting a mes- 
sage to Fremont's quarters, the purport of 
which was that the Mexicans were preparing 
to fall upon him and his men, and to cut them 
in pieces. The note, written in pencil, which 
Fremont sent back to the consul, is so character- 
istic of the man who never was foiled, that I must 
copy it entire : " My Dear Sir, — I this mo- 
ment received your letters, and without wait- 
ing to read them, acknowledge the receipt, 
which the courier requires, immediately. I am 
making myself as strong as possible, in the 
intention that if we are unjustly attacked, 
we will fight to extremity, and refuse quarter, 
trusting to our country to avenge our death. 
No one has reached our camp, and from the 
heights we are able to see the troops (with the 

glass,) mustering at St. John's, and preparing 
16* 



186 Young American's 



cannon. I thank you for your kindness and good 
wishes, and would write more at length as to 
my intentions, did I not fear that my letter 
would be intercepted. We have in no wnse 
done wrong to the people or the authorities of 
the country, and if w^e are hemmed in and as- 
saulted here, we will die every man of us, under 
the flag of our country." 

Fremont's sharp-sighted Delawares kept a 
constant watch of the movements of the Mexi- 
cans. One day, everything seemed to indicate 
that there would be an immediate assault. Fre- 
mont addressed his men encouragingly. Every 
one of them assured him that he would die, if 
necessary, in the defence of the rights of his 
country. The Delawares, according to the 
habits of their race, attired themselves as if ex- 
pecting death. They besmeared themselves 
and their horses with red paint, made the cir- 
cuit of the camp, singing songs of war and of 
death. But the enemy didn't come, this time. 
By and bye, they were seen retreating down the 
hill. On another occasion, they were discover- 
ed coming up by moonlight. Fremont selected 
twenty-five of his men, put himself at their 
head, and dashed dow^n the sides of the moun- 
tain, to meet the Mexicans, who turned and 



Life of Fremont. 187 



fled, as if Napoleon's army of the Khine were 
after them. 

The party had been in their encampment on 
Hawk's Peak some four days, when an accident 
occurred which some of the more superstitious 
of the men regarded as a very bad omen, and it 
had the effect to depress their spirits not a little. 
The flag which had been hoisted on a pole, and 
which had been floating there, in that moun- 
tain breeze, all the time they had been in that 
encampment, suddenly fell to the ground. Fre- 
mont, with his usual quick sagacity, gave a fa- 
vorable interpretation to the omen. He had 
been thinking before of moving off, and as soon 
as this accident took place, " There, boys," said 
he, "that means saddle vp.'' And before the 
dawn of the next morning, they were many 
miles down the valley of the San Joaquin. 

Another surprise, scarcely less than that of 
Castro's warlike note, awaited Fremont. One 
day, he met two horsemen, who proved to be 
men that had been with him on one of 
his former expeditions. They had been sent to 
inform him that Mr. Gillespie was searchingfor 
him, and that he had come all the way from 
Washington to brhig dispatches to him, and to 
our naval squadron. At once, his route was 



1S8 Young American's 

changed, and he went to meet Mr. Gillespie. 
That day he rode sixty miles, and had the satis- 
faction, before night, of finding the party who 
were in search of him, and of reading letters 
from home. The purport of the dispatches he 
received from our Secretary of State w^as, that 
he must look out for any schemes that might 
be in progress by any other government, to ob- 
tain possession of California ; and that he must 
endeavor to secure the good will of the citizens 
of the country towards the United States. 

That same night, a party of Tlamath Indians 
attacked the camp, and killed three of Fre- 
mont's bravest men, one of whom was a Dela- 
ware. Basil Lajeunesse, of whom you have 
often heard in the narrative, was one of the vic- 
tims. A Tlamath chief fell in the assault, and 
left his quiver on the field, filled with arrows. 
Carson tells a thrilling story of this attack, and 
I should like to recite it to you ; but we must 
pass on. These Indians had occasion to regret 
that they meddled with the affairs of Fremont's 
camp ; for they were pursued and attacked, and 
a large number of them killed. It appeared 
afterwards, according to the statement of Mr. 
Gillespie, that these Indians had been hovering 
around him for days. He said he had no doubt 



Life of Fremont. 



189 



that, but for the prompt appearance of Fremont 
and his men, his little party would all have 
been cut in pieces. In this encounter, Carson's 
life, which was in imminent danger, was saved 




FREMONT SAVIXG CARSON S LIFE. 

-by the coolness and the promptness of Fre- 
mont. Carson was in advance, when he ob- 
served an Indian making preparations to let an 
arrow fly at him. The intrepid mountaineer 



190 Young American's 

loaded his rifle. But it only snapped. In an 
instant the arrow would have pierced him, had 
not Fremont, seeing the danger, dashed with 
his horse on the Indian, and knocked him down. 
" I owe my life to those two," says Carson — 
" the Colonel and Sacramento (the name of Fre- 
mont's horse) — they saved me." 



Life of Fremont. 191 



Chapter XI. 

WHEN I commenced these conversations^ 
as you will recollect, I promised to give 
you a condensed sketch of the life and services 
of a man, who, though he has proved himself to 
be one of the bravest heroes of his time, has 
earned his laurels elsewhere, for the most part, 
than on the battle-field. But while in Califor- 
nia, owing to the peculiar relation, at the time, 
of our government with that of Mexico, he be- 
came involved in warlike affairs, without his 
own seeking ; and he thought he would have 
acted a traitorous part towards his country, if 
he hesitated to defend her honor with such 
means as he had at his disposal. I must now 
show you a little picture — simply etched; I can- 
not fill up the outlines — of his achievements, 
as a military man. 

"Before we come to that. Uncle Frank, I 
wish we might see exactly why it was that 
Fremont took these warlike steps. Had war 
been declared aofainst Mexico, then ?" 



192 Young American's 

No, my boj^ — that is, the news of such a de- 
claration had not at that time reached the ears 
of Fremont, and he did not act, of course, with 
reference to any such event. I'll tell you, in a 
few words, how matters stood in California, at 
this period. There was difficulty between the 
United States and Mexico. The Mexicans, in 
consequence, were oppressing the emigrants (of 
whom there were some two thousand residing 
on the Pacific coast,) from the United States. 
They excited the Indians to commit acts of 
violence on our people. The government were 
trying, too, to stir up feuds between the native 
Californians and their foreign neighbors. It 
was determined to put down our people, be- 
cause they had the misfortune not to have been 
born on Californian or Mexican soil. General 
Castro had issued a proclamation, requiring 
foreigners — a term which indicated our people 
alone — to leave the country. And, besides, 
there was a secret scheme on foot, to transfer 
California to the British Government. A Brit- 
ish man-of-war was then on the coast, and its 
commanding officer was holding parleys with 
the Mexican officers. In anticipation of the 
new order of things, the Indians, set on by the 
Mexicans, were beginninj^ to burn the houses 



Life of Fremont. 193 

and the crops of the settlers from the United 
States. The utmost alarm pervaded the ranks 
of our people. Shut in, as they were, without 
protection, and without the means of success- 
fully defending themselves, they flocked to Fre- 
mont, and begged him to place himself at their 
head, and to afford them the benefit of his strong 
arm in protecting them. How could a brave 
man — how could any man, with a dozen drops 
of patriotic blood in his veins — hesitate which 
was the right course to pursue? I don't ask, 
who could hesitate to pursue this course ; but 
who could fail to see that this was the right 
one ? Fremont saw that it was right. He 
adopted it. If he had taken the opposite 
course, and, like the priest and the Levite in 
the parable, had passed by, quietly and coolly, 
on the other side, I think he would have done 
what I never heard of his doing in his life — 
shown the ensign of prudence rather than that 
of bravery. Why, on the one hand, were the 
banishment of his owm people from the coun- 
try, and their exposure to the tender mercies of 
the savages ; the loss, perhaps forever, of this 
great Californian tract to the United States, 
and its transfer to a people living on another 

continent. On the other hand, was the hope of 
17 



194 Young American's 

relieving his own people, and — what inspired 
him with a higher enthusiasm — of achieving 
the independence of California, and of giving its 
citizens a government of their own. 

" But didn't he act for the United States ?" 

No, not in the beginning of this move- 
ment. 

" Didn't he carry the star-spangled banner in 
his regiment?" 

Not at first. He had no authority for doing 
that. He had a flag designed and painted for 
the occasion. It bore the figure of a white bear, 
an animal that never gives the road to anybody, 
and is, withal, a very savage customer, when he 
is attacked unjustly. When he was unjustly 
forced to defend himself on Hawk's Peak, how- 
ever, he raised the flag of his country, and he 
and his band determined to stand by it to the 
last. He had a right to appeal to that flag then. 
All this time, a messenger from our government 
was dashing on, with all the speed he could com- 
mand, to our little fleet off the California coast, 
charged, with the news that war was declared 
with Mexico, and instructing the commodore of 
the squadron to commence hostilities at that 
point. 

Now, boys, I have so little taste for battle 



Life of Fremont. 195 

scenes, that I shall pass over Fremont's milita- 
ry career in California rather rapidly, though 
not so rapidly as to fail to give you, if possible, 
a clear idea of this campaign. I say ifjjossible — 
for it is about the hardest thing I ever attempt- 
ed to do in my life, to condense a long story into 
a few words. 

Fremont called his men together, and stated 
to them his intentions. He told them, though, 
that, as he should not, for the time being, be 
acting for his government, he had, of course, 
no authority to compel those under his com- 
mand to engage in this new service, and that 
they all had liberty to leave, if they saw fit. 
Not one of them — to their credit let it be spoken 
— manifested any desire to leave. All said they 
would stand by their valiant chief, come what 
might. 

His first act, as military commander, was to 
march against the Indians, who were making 
our settlers so much trouble. He broke up 
and dispersed five villages of hostile savages in 
one day, and before he slept that night, he had 
routed a large Indian force, assembled for the 
purpose of falling upon our people. These 
steps, so rapidly, so promptly, and so boldly 
taken, went a great way towards putting an 



196 Young American's 

end to the combined attacks of the savages on 
the settlers from our country. 

On the 11th of June, having received intelli- 
gence, w^here he was encamped, not far from 
Sutter's Fort, that a party of Mexicans, with 
some tv^^o hundred horses, were on their way to 
join Castro's force at Santa Clara, Fremont 
sent a few choice men to meet the detachment. 
They captured all the Mexicans, and all their 
horses, though they let their human captives 
go, while they held on to the brutes. Castro 
had four hundred men at his command. Fre- 
mont next took Sonoma, when several cannon 
and a good many muskets fell into his hands. 
He roused the American settlers, and obtained 
some security from them. Then, at the distance 
of eighty miles from Sonoma, he learned that 
Castro, with all his force, was about to march 
on that place. In a day and a half, with ninety 
riflemen, he had traversed the entire distance, 
and encamped at Sonoma. Castro had not 
come. His movements were less rapid. No 
doubt he marched according to the most ap- 
proved military tactics which he had learned in 
the schools — very orderly, very decorously, 
very scientifically. He went by the book, 
I'll venture, as carefully as some housewives 



Life of Fremont. 197 

do by their cook-books. In imagination, I 
see that eminent military scholar, slowly 
moving along on his old aristocratic charger, 
at the head of his battalion, with his drawn 
sword in oiie hand, and in the other a huge 
volume, with a gold clasp, in which is shut 
up all the wisdom of forty universities for 
forty hundred years. He is an immensely scie?i- 
tific man, that Castro. Fremont, on the other 
hand, is a practical man. His tactics were not 
learned in military schools. I don't believe he 
has ever seen West Point, except when passing 
it, from the river. Well, as the mountain hadn't 
come to Fremont, he thought he would go to 
the mountain. I wonder if that was a scientific 
movement? Aparty of twenty men started out 
from Fremont's camp, found a company of 
seventy dragoons (all of Castro's force that had 
appeared,) attacked them, defeated them, and 
took from them nine pieces of artillery. This 
they did, too, without the loss of one of their 
own number. 

All the country north of the bay of San Fran- 
cisco was speedily cleared of Mexican troops. 
On the 5th of July — it would have been the 
4th, if the plans of the people had ripened a lit- 
tle faster — Fremont assembled the inhabitants 
17* 



198 Young American's 

of Sonoma, and advised them to declare them- 
selves, in the name of the v^^iole people, inde- 
pendent of the Mexican government. They 
did so. They had the utmost confidence in 
their champion, and they selected him, without 
hesitation, to be their standard-bearer in their 
struggle to make good their bold declaration. 

The attack on Castro was the next thing to 
be effected. He was at Santa Clara. Fremont 
was on the march to that place, on the next 
day after the people had proclaimed their inde- 
pendence. On his way he learned that Castro 
was retreating, with his whole force, consisting 
of four hundred men, to the seat of government 
of California, more than four hundred miles 
from Sonoma. Fremont determined to pursue 
him. Before he started, however, the welcome 
intelligence came to his ears, that war had been 
declared with Mexico. Here was another novel 
shifting of scenes. The Bear Flag which floated 
over the town of Sonoma was hauled down, and 
the stars and stripes hoisted in its place. It 
was hij the hand of Fremont that the banner of our 
Union was first raised in California, True, the 
news of the declaration reached our squadron 
at Monterey before it came to Sonoma, and 
the American flag was then raised there. But 



Life of Fremont. 201 

Fremont had already unfurled it to the breeze, 
many days previously. 

Fremont, with one hundred and sixty men, 
pursued Castro, who fled before him. This Cali- 
fornia regiment must have been a set of queer- 
looking fellows. An Englishman, on a visit 
to California at the time, tells us that "their 
dress was principally a long, loose coat of deer- 
skin, tied with thongs in front, and trowsers of 
the same material, and of their own manufac- 
ture." He says, too, in winding up his account 
of them, that they behaved remarkably well — 
a circumstance which he attributes to their 
having no liquor. 

When Fremont first came to the country, 
our naval squadron was under the command of 
Commodore Sloat. Soon, however, after the 
commencement of the war, he returned to the 
United States, leaving Commodore Stockton in 
command. From this latter officer, Fremont, 
as in duty bound, received his future orders. 
When the conquest of the country was effected, 
he received the commission from Stockton of 
Governor of California. 

Fremont, with all his zeal for his country, 
always carried in his bosom a kind heart to- 
wards his enemies. Here is an incident which 



202 Young American's 

shows that he was humane, as well as brave. 
He had taken a number of prisoners. Among 
them was one by the name of Pico, a brother 
of the Governor. This man gave his parole — 
that is, his word of honor — that he would not 
not escape ; so that he was not closely watch- 
ed. He broke this parole, and was caught m 
the act of trying to make his escape. He wished 
to lead an insurrection against the new govern- 
ment. A court-martial tried him, and sen- 
tenced him to die. The man bore his sentence 
like a true hero. The hour of twelve, which 
was fixed upon as the time of his execution, 
was drawing near, when his wife and children 
appeared before Fremont, and on their knees, 
and with many tears, besought him that their 
husband and father might live. The heart of 
the stern warrior was also the heart of a man. 
He yielded. Pico was pardoned, and joy un- 
bounded was restored to that before sorrow- 
stricken family. Fremont never had occasion 
to regret that he leaned towards mercy rather 
than justice in this instance. The man whose 
life he had saved, proved to be one of his best 
friends, and a firm and reliable supporter, besides, 
of the government of the United States. My 
young friend, there is no trait in the human cha- 



Life of Fremont. 203 

racter more lovely than the one which shines 
so brilliantly in this little incident. I would 
rather have chiseled on my tomb-stone the story 
of such an act as this, than the record of the 
grandest achievement of Napoleon. 

I must pass over many of the details of Fre- 
mont's campaign in California. A full account 
of them would occupy too much time. No 
one can read them, however, without being 
convinced that the conquest of California ivas due 
to the hold and ener'getic efforts of Charles Fremont^ 
more than to any other man. His military labors 
were incessant. His measures were always suc- 
cessful. In his marches at the head of his 
famous battalion, he traveled with a rapidity 
till then never known in California. 

His conquests were, many of them, almost 
bloodless. By his rapid and dashing move- 
ments, he bewildered his enemies, threw their 
ranks into confusion, and put them to flight 
before they could rally their self-possession. 
He made friends of the hostile Indians. No 
white man had such an influence as he over the 
savage Californian tribes. I must tell you how 
he managed, during the war, to pacify the Wah- 
lah-wal-lahs, who had made up their minds to 
attack Sutter's Fort, and to do a great deal of 



204 Young American's 

mischief besides. It was said that a thousand 
of them — though probably the report was ex- 
aggerated, as such reports usually are — had 
assembled, and were preparing to march. There 
was a great panic in the country on this ac- 
count. Fremont had in his regiment, at this 
time, several hundred riflemen, and he might 
easily have stopped this intended invasion by 
force ; but he determined first to try more 
peaceable means — for he had great faith in the 
power of kindness. He thought he could make 
them listen to reason. So, taking only three 
men with him, he went into their territory. 
One of the Indians knew him. A large mass 
of them gathered around him. They said they 
had been wronged, and they were going to have 
vengeance. They had been robbed, they said, 
and, one of their best young men had been 
killed by the whites. Fremont heard their tale 
patiently. He told them he was sorry for their 
grievances ; that, no doubt, they had been un- 
justly dealt with ; and that he did not blame 
them for being angry about it. He promised 
them redress, if they would follow his advice. 
They thought he was a friend. He spoke as 
a friend, and acted as a friend. They told him 
they would do as he advised. He advised them 



Ltfk OB' Fremotjt. 205 

to go off on a winter hunt, and said he would 
let ooe of his own men go with them, to hold 
over thenfi the American flag, so that nobody 
would dare to molest them; for that, if any 
one insulted that flag, he insulted him. They 
were perfectly subdued by his friendly talky 
and readily fell in with the plan proposed. 
They now placed at his disposal ten of their 
young men, who afterwards showed themselves 
to be among the best in his whole battalion. 
Would it not be well for other men of distinc- 
tion, who are charged with the settlement of 
difficulties among these poor, ignorant savages^ 
to learn a lesson from this example ? 

While in Monterey, on the 27th of October, 
Fremont learned that he bad been appointed a 
Lieutenant Colon€fl of a rifle regiment, by the 
President of the United States. 

In the routine of his duty, it once became 
necessary to ride a long distance, for the pur- 
pose of informing a superior officer of an insur- 
rection in Lower Californi-a. The distance to 
be traveled, in going and returning, was over 
nine hundred miles. But the case was an ur- 
gent one ; and Fremont accomplished the jour- 
ney, m ^ven days, including stoppages by the 

way, and a day's detention in Monterey. The 
18 



206 Young American's 

route, too, for the most part, over a rough 
and dangerous road, was regarded by the Sec- 
retary of War, as one of the greatest feats of 
the kind on record. Fremont was accompa- 
nied on the journey by two men. 

I have a funny bear-story to tell you. As 
Fremont was proceeding from Los Angeles to 
San Francisco, with some thirty men, they dis- 
covered three young grizzl}^ bears. They were 
on some oak-trees, eating acorns. The men all 
jumped off their horses, and ran towards the 
bears. The bears were frightened, and com- 
menced running down the trees, and then up 
again. Fremont and his men were at a loss 
to understand the meaning of this. As they 
raised themselves up to shoot at these youth- 
ful bears, however, they were surprised at ob- 
serving four or five overgrown old ones around 
the foot of the nearest tree. The agitation of 
the young bears was explained at once. The 
large ones were too heavy to climb, and it ap- 
pears, had sent up the young ones, who were 
industriously engaged in breaking oiF branches, 
and throwing them down with the acorns to 
their parents, who drove them back up the 
trees as fast as they came down, not then hav- 
ing perceived the cause of their alarm. Other 



Life of Fremont. 207 

bears came up to the assistance of their unfortu- 
nate friends. The whole river bottom was cov- 
ered with branches of wdllow trees, with open 
spaces and w^ater-holes scattered among them. 
As the men charged upon the bears, a tall 
Frenchman fell over a very large cub, who was 
trying to hide himself. The man screamed, and 
the bear screamed. As the men heard him, they 
raised a hearty shout of laughter. The men 
were now scattered through the willows in 
every direction, and every bear had a chance, 
for it was a free fight. The huge creatures re- 
peatedly attempted to charge upon their assail- 
ants, but the fire of so many rifles at once, 
proved too heavy for them. At last they re- 
tired, leaving twelve dead upon the field. 

It is now time to tell jou. something about a 
matter, which, first and last, occasioned Fre- 
mont not a little trouble ; and with this recital 
I will close the extremely interesting narra- 
tive of Fremont's third expedition. As I have 
told you before. Commodore Stockton was in 
command of the Pacific squadron, and from him 
Fremont received his commission as Governor 
of the country. All went on as merry as a mar- 
riage bell, until the arrival of General Kearney. 
He was sent by our government to take charge 



•208 Young American's 

of the land forces. It does not appear that the 
instructions to Stockton and Kearney, respect- 
ively, were very definite ; and the two officers 
both claimed superiorify. The quarrel was an 
unfortunate one, not only on account of these 
estimable gentlemen, but because it involved 
Fremont in difficulty. It was evident that he 
must decide which he would obey. He couldn't 
obey both, where contrary orders were issued. 
There was certainly very plausible reasons on 
both sides. As, however, he had taken his or- 
ders from the first, up to this period, from tbe 
Commodore, and had received his commission 
as Governor from him, he finally concluded 
still to acknowledge his authority, instead of 
(leneral Kearney's. If, in this choice, he erred, 
the error was surely a very innocent one, and 
one, I imagine, which most persons, in those 
circumstances, would have fallen into. But 
we, who know so little about the laws of war, 
must not attempt to decide this question. It 
was decided in Washington, though, after Fre- 
mont returned. General Kearney, thinking it 
a good opportunity, I suspect, to fight his bat- 
tles with Stockton over the head of Fremont, 
brought the late Governor of California before 
a court-martial, who tried him on a charge of 



Life of Fremont. 209 

disobedience to superior orders. Tlie court de- 
cided against Fremont. To understand the true 
grounds of this decision, it will be necessary to 
go behind the curtain a moment. Fremont's 
almost unparalleled success, not only as an ex- 
plorer, but as a military commander, had secured 
some enemies for him. 

*' That's strange enough. I should think the 
more a man did for his country, the more friends 
he would have." 

That is your mistake. With many people — I 
think they have rather small souls, to be sure ; 
but I am afraid there are a good many such 
men — it is a crime for a man to get any higher 
in the scale of greatness than the point they 
have reached themselves, especially if he has had 
fewer helps in his climbing than they have had. 
I have told you before that Fremont had never 
got a diploma in a military school. Therefore — 
such is the logic of a certain class of men, who 
are in the habit of standing still, and letting the 
earth whirl round without them — he was not a 
scientific man. Therefore he was a mere pre- 
tender. 

The enemies whom Fremont had made, by a 
series of brilliant successes, vi'hich filled every 

true heart with astonishment and admiration, 

18* 



210 Young American's 

were mostly those who reasoned after this sort. 
They looked upon a man, no matter what 
genius he had displayed, or what deeds he had 
done, who had not been into the hopper of 
some such scientific mill as West Point, and re- 
gularly ground out there, as little better than 
a bungler, an empiric, an out-and-out quack, in 
military affiiirs. These are the men who be- 
lieve that all the knowledge worth gaining 
is shut up within the four walls of the college. 
These are the men who would pinion a poor 
fellow's arms, and hold him back from accom- 
plishing anything great and noble in the de- 
partment of science, if he be so unfortunate as 
to have attained an eclectic education. These 
are the men who consider the system of science 
as a great iron chest, closely locked and bolt- 
ed. They fight like tigers, when you bring a 
new fact or principle to their notice. " Don't 
you see the box is closed?" they say, " it is 
full; there isn't any more room." "But," 
you say, *' here is a fact ; I want you to look at 
it, and tell me where to put it." Then they 
beckon you away, saying, between their teeth, 
that they can't be troubled with such a paltry 
thing as a flict, and that they don't believe it is 
a fact; else it would have been put into the 



Life of Fremont. 211 

iron box. They would put Benjamin Franklin 
down, if he were on the stage now. Of course 
they wo«ld. He got his diploma in a printing 
office, not in a college. 

Well, it was through the influence of such men 
as these, that Fremont was indebted for the jus- 
tice he received at Washington. The President 
of the United States showed how he regarded 
the course Fremont had thought fit to pursue, 
by giving him his commission again, as soon as 
the verdict was rendered. Fremont didn't take 
it, though. 

He resigned his commission, and left the ar- 
my. This persecution — for it certainly had the 
air of persecution — greatly deepened the sym- 
pathy of the American people. It made them 
more desirous of extending their acquaint- 
ance with his exploits. It tended, indirectly, 
more than any other circumstance, to raise him 
to his present high position in the minds of his 
countrymen. 

He returned a few days too late to see his 
mother. She had gone to the spirit-land a short 
time before he could reach the home of his 
childhood. While in Charleston, at this time, 
a splendid sword, very richly mounted, was 
presented to him by the citizens. It is a sword 



212 Young American's 

worth looking at, I assure you. On the scab- 
bard, which is of gold, are two shields hung to- 
gether, with the words " California," and 
" 1846." Below them, is this inscription : 
"Presented by the citizens of Charleston, to 
Lieutenant-Colonel John Charles Fremont. A 
memorial of their high appreciation of the gal- 
lantry and science he has displayed in his ser- 
vices in Oregon and California." Lower down 
on the scabbard is a representation of a buffalo 
hunt. No wonder the people of Charleston 
were proud of this son of theirs. 



Life of FremoxNT. 213 



Ch APT E R XII. 

FREMONT'S fourth expedition across the 
Rocky Mountains was undertaken at his 
own risk, the government of the United States 
having had nothing to do with it. He project- 
ed and conducted it, quite " on his own hook," 
as the vulgar phrase is. Some kind friends of 
his, who were desirous of showing their disap- 
probation of the kind of justice which had been 
accorded to him in Washington, and who, be- 
sides, were unwilling that our country should 
lose the service of so valuable an explorer, gave 
him some assistance, in the way of dollars and 
cents, though these dollars and cents, I believe, 
all came out of his pockets, at last. 

" But what did he go again for ? not for the 
pleasure of the trip, I am sure." 

Ill studying his life, I think every one must 
be struck with the fact, that his pleasure con- 
sists, and fsrom the time he attained his man- 
hood, has ever consisted^ in hard labor for some 
desirable practical end. I have no doubt he 



214 Young American's 

started on his journey cheerfully. But the plea- 
sure he derived in prosecuting it, though ahnost 
unparalleled in hardships and exposures, I ven- 
ture to say was chiefly in the hope he had of 
brinofinii; rich stores of information home with 
him, for the benefit of his countrymen. This, 
however, is not telling you the particular object 
he had in view in fitting out another expedition. 
He had begun, before this time, as you are 
already aware, to look upon California as the 
future home of his family, and he was especially 
anxious to do all he could for that part of our 
country. He was one of the first men who 
thought seriously of a railroad across the Kocky 
Mountains, to our Pacific coast. In all his ex- 
plorations, that idea had been prominent in his 
mind. It became with him, at the period in 
his history to which we have now arrived, not 
only a desirable scheme to construct such a road, 
but Q. iiracticahle one. He believed it could be 
done, and that it ought to be done. The great 
difficulty, of course, which presented itself to 
his mind, as it must to ours, is to find a pass in 
the mountains where the snow is not too deep, 
in the middle of the winter, to absolutely pre- 
vent travel by railroad. Fremont had strong 
hopes, that, by pursuing the route he had mark- 



Life of Fremont. 215 

ed out for himself in this expedition, he would 
be able to find such a pass. 

'' Why, Uncle Frank, after what w^e. have 
heard of the winters in the Rocky Mountains, 
I don't believe all the wise men in the world 
can make a railroad work there, unless they, run 
a tunnel ri^ht under the mountains." 

My fine fellow, don't you know that where 
there is a will there is a way ; and that perse- 
verance conquers almost everything ? Fremont's 
party consisted of thirty-three men, a large 
portion selected from his former companions 
in travel. Mr. Preuss, of whom you have seve- 
ral times heard, and who was so valuable as a 
draughtsman in these expeditions, was one of the 
number. He w^as the man who was lost, you re- 
member, in a section of the wilderness abound- 
ing with hostile Indians, and who, after running 
the gauntlet between starvation on the one 
hand, and savages on the other, for several 
days, was at length discovered, safe and sound. 
So much interest attaches to this man, as the 
constant and invaluable assistant of Fremont, 
that I am sure you will like to hear a little story 
I have to tell you, about the way in which these 
tw^o men first became acquainted. Their first 
meeting was a strange one. I have just hear'^ 



216 Young American's 

how it happened. One cold, dark, starmy nig-M 
in winter — ^it was Christmas-eve, if I recollect 
aright — a man appeared at the door of Colonel 
Benton's house, in Washington, and asked to 
see FremoHt. It was not long after the re- 
turn of Mr. Nicollet's party, and Fremont, for 
the time a member of the family of his father- 
in-law, was engaged in preparing maps for a 
report of the expedition. The stranger was a 
hard-featured man. His dress was threadbare ; 
his steps were faltering ; his face flushed, and 
his whole appearance ghastly in the extreme. 
The servant thought the man was under the in- 
fluence of liquor, and before admitting him, 
communicated his suspicions to the family of 
Fremont. " Let him come in," said the gener- 
ous-hearted man, ** don't turn away any stran- 
ger to-night." The stranger did come in. And 
sure enough ! he was anything but attractive 
in his appearance. He had a tale to tell, 
though. It was a tale of sadness ; and he found 
willing ears to listen to it. It appeared that 
he was a topographical draughtsman. He had 
been employed, for some time, on a geological 
survey, under the patronage of the State of 
Maryland. That service was completed, how- 
ever, and, at the time we are speaking of, he 



Life of Fremont. 217 

was entirely out of employment. He was not 
uniformly a provident man. Though perfectly 
sober, as it turned out, at this time, he had 
formed intemperate habits, and these habits, as 
they are sure to do in every case, helped to 
make him and keep him a poor man. He had 
a large family ; and at this time, they, as well 
as himself, were actually suffering for want 
of food. His extremely haggard appearance 
was due, in part, to his long fasting. As you 
may suppose, his errand with Fremont was to 
ask him for employment. He thought he could 
find something to do on Nicollet's maps and pro- 
files. There ivas^ indeed, a plenty of work to be 
done, in getting the report of the expedition rea- 
dy to present ; and Fremont was anxious enough 
to have it done, and out of the way^ so that he 
could set off on an expedition under his ow^n 
conduct, in the following spring. But unfor- 
tunately, the stranger was not acquainted with 
that branch of science to which this work be- 
longed. It required a man who could master 
some tough astronomical calculations. Well, 
what do you think Fremont did in this case? 
He was pretty well convinced that this poor 
man's family ought to be assisted until he 
could obtain employment. He greatly wished 



218 Young American's 



to assist him, too ; but he had few means of his 
own. 

The work was under the supervision of Mr. 
Nicollet. Fremont went to him, and asked, as 
a favor, that those astronomical minutes might 
be given to him, and that he might be permitted 
to make the calculations. The request was 
readily granted ; for Nicollet well knew the 
mathematical skill of the man to w^hom he was 
entrusting these calculations. At this time, 
Fremont was hard at work at the topographical 
bureau all da}^ He was so anxious to get 
through with all the work relating to Mr. 
Nicollet's expedition, that he gave to the gov- 
ernment three hours more every day, than were 
spent in the office by others in the same depart- 
ment. The only time he had to devote to 
these calculations, was between eight o'clock 
in the evening and the hour for retiring — the 
time that weary and care-worn men love to 
spend in the society of their families. And 
these were the very hours which this noble- 
hearted man devoted to working out the cal- 
culations. And when the work was done, and 
the money paid, he put it all into the hands of 
the hard-featured man who made him the visit 
on Christmas-eve. This man was Mr. Preuss. 



Life of Fremont. 219 



His family was now placed in comfortable cir- 
cumstances. He became more temperate in 
his habits. When Fremont commenced his 
Rocky Mountain adventures, he took Preuss 
with him, and secured a good salary for him. 
From that time, which was in 1S42, until the 
year 1849, Preuss was almost constantly in 
Fremont's service, and alway gave peifect sat- 
isfaction. He managed, from his salary, to lay 
up some money, with which he built him a 
house in Washington, and furnished it very 
neatly and conveniently. The little picture I 
have sketched for you here, my boys, is so at- 
tractive of itself, that I will not pause to point 
out to you the beauties in it, which I so ear- 
nestly wish you to discover and admire. You 
will not need that I should exhibit them to you, 
or that I should say one word in their praise. 

The expedition started in October, 184S. 
There has been, as yet, no full report pub- 
lished either of this or of the subsequent ex- 
pedition of Fremont; so that we must glean 
our information respecting both of them from 
the letters which he wrote at the time, and 
from such other fragments as we can lay our 
hands upon. 

We find the party at Bent's Fort as early as 



220 Young American's 



the 17th of November. From this point Fre- 
mont writes to his father-in-law, Colonel Ben- 
ton. Some things which he says in this letter 
3^ou will be interested to hear. In order to 
avoid the chance of snow storms, it seems the 
party followed up the line of the southern 
branch of the Kansas river. They found Mr. 
Fitzpatrick, of whom you have already heard, 
in Kansas, acting as an Indian agent. Fremont 
says he was holding a talk with four or five 
different tribes, when the expedition arrived ; 
and he speaks in the highest terms of the kind 
and excellent manner in which he discharged 
his duties. The Indians were on perfectly good 
terms with the whites; and their behaviour, 
while the exploring party were passing through 
their territory, was above reproach. In this 
letter, Fremont says the party were always up 
an hour or two before light, and that the break- 
fast was over, and they were ready to move 
before sunrise. This breakfasting before day- 
light, with the thermometer standing only 
twelve degrees above zero, he felt inclined to 
admit, was a somewhat startling change from 
the family breakfast-table at Washington. 

His next letter is to his wife. It is dated at 
Taos, in New Mexico, and it was written at the 



Life of Fremont. 223 

house of his good friend Kit Carson. Then it 
was near the first of February. This letter 
tells a sad tale. Before he came to the moun- 
tains, soon after he left Bent's Fort, Fremont 
obtained a guide by the name of Williams. He 
was an experienced trapper, and knew a great 
many things about the Rocky Mountains. 
But, unfortunately, he proved to have known 
far too little of the mountain passes, to be a 
competent guide to such an important expe- 
dition. He made a great many blunders, and 
some of them occasioned a series of disasters to 
the party which it is painful to dwell upon. 
Through his ignorance, more than ten weeks 
were occupied in making a journey of only a 
few days. He was decidedly worse than no 
guide, on the same principle that a bad watch 
is worse than none. Still, for a long time, his 
employer had confidence in him. Before he 
had learned to distrust his judgment, however, 
the party were involved in the greatest danger 
and distress, on account of having taken the 
wrong course. But this narrative loses so much 
of its interest, when I select from it a little 
here and a little there, and tell it to you in my 
own way, that I must quote the exact language 
of the letter. Fremont writes : '' The cold 



224 Young American's 

was extraordinary — at the warmest hours of 
the day (between one and two) the thermometer 
standing, in the shade of only a tree-trunk, at 
zero. We pressed up towards the summit, the 
snow deepening ; and in four or five days 
reached the naked ridges which lie above the 
timbered countr}^ and which form the dividing 
grounds between the waters of the Atlantic and 
Pacific oceans. Along these naked ridges, it 
storms nearly all winter, and the winds sweep 
across them with remorseless fury. On our 
first attempt to cross, we encountered a jjouderic 
(dry snow, driven thick through the air by vio- 
lent wind, and in which objects are visible 
only at a short distance,) and were driven back, 
having some ten or twelve men variously frozen, 
face, hands, or feet. The guide came nigh be- 
ing frozen to death here, and dead mules were 
already lying about the fires. Meantime, it 
snowed steadily. The next day we made mauls, 
and beating a road or trench through the snow, 
crossed the crest in defiance of the pouderie^ 
and encamped immediately below, in the edge 
of the timber. The trail appeared as if a de- 
feated party had passed by. Pack-saddles and 
packs, scattered articles of clothing, and dead 
mules, were strewed along, almost the whole 



Life of Fremont. 225 

distance. A continuance of stormy weather 
paralyzed ail movement. We were encamped 
somewhere about 12,000 feet above the sea. 
Westward, the country was buried in deep 
snow. It was impossible to advance, and to 
turn back was equally impracticable. We 
were overtaken by sudden and inevitable ruin. 
It was instantly apparent that we should lose 
every animal. There were more than a hun- 
dred in all. I determined to recross the moun- 
tain more towards the open country, and haul, 
or pack the baggage, by men, down to the Del 
Norte. With great labor the baggage was 
transported across the crest, to the head-springs 
of a little stream leading to the main river. A 
few days were sufficient to destroy our fine 
band of mules. They generally kept huddled 
together, and as they froze, one would be seen 
to tumble down, and the snow w^ould cover 
him. Sometimes they would break off, and 
rush dov^n towards the timber, until they were 
stopped by the deep snow, where they were 
soon hidden by the pouderic. The courage of 
the men failed fast. In this situation I deter- 
mined to send in a party to the Spanish settle- 
ments of New Mexico, for provisions and mules, 
to transport our baggage to Taos. From 



226 Young Amehican's 

anions: the volunteers I chose Kinsr. Bracken- 
ridge, Creutzfeldt, and the guide Williams — the 
party under the command of King. In case of 
the least delay at the settlements, he was to 
send me an express. In the mean time, we were 
to occupy ourselves in removing the baggage 
and equipage dow^n to the Del Norte, which 
we reached with our baggage in a few days after 
their departure (the day after Christmas.) Like 
many a Christmas for years back, mine was 
spent on the summit of a wintry mountain, m}^ 
heart filled with gloomy and anxious thoughts, 
with none of the merry faces and pleasant 
luxuries that belong to that happy time. Day 
after day passed by, and no news from our ex- 
press party. Snow continued to fall almost 
incessantly on the mountain. The spirits of the 
camp grew lower. Proue lay down in the trail, 
and froze to death. In a sunshiny day, and hav- 
ing with him means to make a fire, he threw 
his blanket down in the trail, and lay there till 
he died. After sixteen days had elapsed from 
King's departure, I became so uneasy at the 
delay, that I decided to wait no longer. I was 
aw^are that our troops had been engaged in 
hostilities with the Spanish Utahs and Apaches, 
who range in the North River valley, and be- 



Life of Fremont. 227 

came fearful that they (King's par(y) had been 
cut off by these Indians. I could imagine no 
other accident. Leaving the camp employed 
with the baggage, I started down the river, with 
a small party, consisting of Godey, with his 
young nephew, Mr. Preuss and Saunders. We 
carried our arms and provisions for two or three 
days." 

" Failing to meet King, my design was to 
make the Red River settlement, about twenty- 
five miles north of Taos, and send back the 
speediest relief possible. My instructions to the 
camp were, that if they did not hear from me 
within a stated time, they were to follow down 
the Del Norte." This Del Norte, it may be neces- 
cessary to say, is the same river that is some- 
times called Rio Grande. The entire name of it 
used to be the Rio Grande del Norte, that is, the 
*' Great Northern River." *' On the second day 
after leaving camp, we came upon a fresh trail 
of Indians-— two lodges, with a considerable 
number of animals. This did not lessen our 
uneasiness for our people. As their trail, when 
we met it, turned and went down the river, we 
followed it. On the fifth, we surprised an 
Indian on the ice of the river. He proved to 
be a Utah, son of a Grand River chief we had 



228 Young American's 



formerly known, and behaved to us in a friendly 
manner. We encamped near them at night. 
By a present of a rifle, my two blankets, and 
other promised rewards when we should get in, 
I prevailed upon this Indian to go with us as a 
guide to the Red River settlement, and take 
with him four of his horses, principally to carry 
our little baggage. These horses were wretch- 
edly poor, and could get along only in a very 
slow walk. On that day (the sixth) we left the 
lodges late, and traveled only some six or seven 
miles. About sunset, we discovered a little 
smoke, in a grove of timber off from the river, 
and thinking, perhaps, it might be our express 
party on its return, we went to see. This was 
the twenty-second day since they had left us, 
and the sixth since we had left the camp. We 
found three of them — Creutzfeldt, Bracken- 
ridge, and Williams — the most miserable ob- 
jects I had ever seen. They had been starving. 
King had starved to death a few days before. 
His remains were some six or eight miles above, 
near the river. By aid of the horses we car- 
ried these three with us to Red River settle- 
ment, which we reached on the tenth evening 
after leaving our camp in the mountains, hav- 
ing traveled through snow and on foot one 



Life of Fremont. 229 

hundred and sixty miles. I look upon the 
anxiety which induced me to set oat from the 
camp as an inspiration. Had I remained there, 
waiting the party which had been sent in, 
every man of us would probably have per- 
ished. 

" The morning after reaching the Red River 
town, Godey and myself rode on to Taos, in 
search of animals and supplies ; and on the 
second evening after that on which we had 
reached Red River, Godey had returned to that 
place with about thirty animals, provisions, and 
four Mexicans, with which he set out for the 
camp on the following morning. On the road, 
he received eight or ten others, which were 
turned over to him by the orders of Major 
Beale, the commanding officer of this northern 
district of New Mexico." 

Fremont remained several days at Taos, 
waiting for the ill-fated party who were still 
behind. During this time, his mind was in a 
state of painful anxiety respecting them. He 
was about to start in pursuit of them, when 
tidings arrived from them. Haler, one of the 
party, succeeded in reaching Taos. Fremont 
says: "I left the camp with occupation suffi- 
cient to emplov them for three or four days, 
20 



230 Young American's 

after which they were to follow me down the 
river. Within that time I had expected the 
relief from King, if it were to come at all. They 
remained where I had left them seven days, and 
then started down the river. Manuel gave way 
to a feeling of despair, after they had traveled 
about two miles, begged Haler to shoot him, 
and then turned and made his way back to the 
camp, intending to die there, as he doubtless 
did. They followed our trail down the river — 
twenty-two men they were in all. About ten 
miles below the camp, Wise gave out, threw 
away his gun and blanket, and a few hundred 
yards further, fell over into the snow and died. 
Two Indian boys, young men, were behind. 
They rolled up Wise in his blanket, and buried 
him in the snow, on the river bank. Carver 
raved during the night, his imagination wholly 
occupied with images of many things which he 
fancied himself eating. In the morning, he 
wandered off from the party, and probably soon 
died. They did not see him again. Sorel on 
this day gave out, and lay down to die. They 
built him a fire, and Morin, who was in a dying 
condition, and snow-blind, remained. These 
two did not probably last till morning. That 
evening, I think, Hubbard killed a deer. They 



Life of Fremont. 231 

traveled on, getting here and there a grouse, 
but probably nothing else, the snow having 
frightened off the game. Things were desper- 
ate, and brought Haler to the determination of 
breaking up the party, in order to prevent them 
from living upon each other. They accordingly 
separated. With Mr. Haler continued five 
others, and the two Indian boys. Kohrer now 
became very despondent. Haler encouraged 
him by recalling to mind his famil}^ and urged 
him to hold out a little longer. On this day he fell 
behind, but promised to overtake them at even- 
ing. At night, Kern's mess encamped a few 
hundred yards from Haler's, with the intention, 
according to Taplin, to remain where they were 
until the relief should come, and in the mean 
time to live upon those who had died, and upon 
the weaker ones as they should die. In the 
evening, Kohrer came up, and remained with 
Kern's mess. Mr. Haler learned afterwards 
from that mess, that Rohrer and Andrews wan- 
dered off the next day, and died. They say 
they saw their bodies. In the morning, Haler's 
party continued on. After a few hours, Hub- 
bard gave out. They built him a fire, gathered 
him some wood, and left him, without, as Haler 
says, turning their heads to look at him as they 



232 YouxG American's 

went off. About two miles further, Scott gave 
out. They did the same for him as for Hub- 
bard, and continued on. In the afternoon, the 
Indian boys went ahead, and before nightfall 
met Godey, with the relief. Haler heard and 
knew the guns which he fired for him at night, 
and starting early in the morning, soon met 
him. I hear that they all cried together, like 
children. Haler turned back with Godey, and 
went with him to where they had left Scott. 
He was still alive, and was saved. Hubbard was 
dead — still v^-arm. From Kern's mess, they 
learned the death of Andrews and Rohrer, and, 
a little above, met Ferguson, who told them 
that Beadle had died the night before." 

In closing this letter, so full of painful inci- 
dents, his heart wrung with anguish — for some 
of the men v/ho were buried beneath the snows 
had been with him for years, and he felt a 
strong attachment for them — Fremont forces 
himself into a more cheerful vein, that his wife 
might be able to mingle some drops of joy in 
the bitter cup it was necessary to send her. 
He says, "When I think of you all, I feel a 
warm glow at my heart, which renovates it, 
like a good medicine, and I forget painful feel- 
ings in strong hope for the future. We shall 



Life op Fremont. 233 

yet, dearest wife, enjoy quiet and happiness 
together — these are nearly one and the same to 
me now. I make frequent pleasant pictures of 
the happy home we are to have, and oftenest, 
and among the pleasantest of all, I see our li- 
brary, with its bright fire, during the stormy 
days, and the large windows looking out upon 
the sea, in the bright weather. I have it all 
planned in my own mind." 

On his arrival at Socorro, a little town on 
the Rio del Norte, Fremont writes again, under 
date of the 24th of February, to Colonel Ben- 
ton. From this letter, we learn that ten of his 
men had been lost, with every one of the mules. 
Camp-furniture, too, of all descriptions, saddles^ 
pack-saddles, clothes, money, were all lost. 
The instruments, however, which Fremont al- 
ways carried with him, were in greater part 
saved. 

After leaving Socorro, the subsequent jour- 
ney of Fremont was comparatively free from 
hardship and disaster, and he pushed on tov/ards 
California, with a good deal of rapidity. So, 
without following his course, step by step, sup- 
pose we allow him, in our imagination, to have 
taken a sort of dairvoijajit leap, and to have ar- 
rived in the pleasant valley of the Sacramento. 
20* 



234 Young American's 

" Can't you tell us something about his fa- 
mous farm, Uncle Frank? I have heard that 
he owns ever so many acres." 

He does own a very large tract, which goes 
by the name of the Mariposas estate, and a very 
large amount of trouble it has given him, first 
and last. His agent bought it for three thou- 
sand dollars. But it has cost him, in law-suits, 
a much larger sum. Interested parties tried to 
get the property, on the ground that Fremont 
had not a good title to it. It was decided, in 
the court which first tried the case, that his 
title was not a valid one. But he, as well as 
the friends of whom he took counsel, believed 
it was valid, and he carried the case up to the 
Supreme Court, which gave a contrary deci- 
sion, and so the title was confirmed. 

" How large is the estate, sir ?" 

Well, it is large enough to make a good 
many farms, such as you have been in the 
habit of seeing. I think it is about seventy 
miles square. It lies north of San Fran 
Cisco, some .two hundred miles. When it 
was purchased, the gold fever had not bro- 
ken out in California, and there were scarcely 
any people living on the Mariposas claim, but 
Indians. Now, however, as this tract is in the 



Life of Fremont. 235 



midst of the gold region, a great many whites 
have been attracted to it, in their search after 
the precious metal ; and I suppose there are at 
least ten thousand people living on it now. 

" But have they any right tliere? Do they 
pay rent for the use of the land ?" 

Strictly speaking, they have no right. But I 
suppose the owner thinks these men will do 
his soil no harm, but that, on the contrary, their 
settling there will eventually tend to make the 
tract more valuable; and so, as they are reap- 
ing great advantages from working the mines, 
he allows them to go on. It was a part of his 
plan, when he bought the Mariposas estate, 
to have settled around him most of the men 
who had so long been his companions in toil ; 
but events have occurred which have taken 
him away from California, and it is not likely 
that he will asrain reside there. So he mav 
never carry out the idea. The mention of this 
scheme reminds me of a pleasant fact that 
came to my knowledge the other day, which 
shows with what enthusiastic admiration these 
brave and true-hearted explorers regard their 
former chief. One of these men had settled in 
California immediately after the breaking up of 
the fourth expedition. He had gradually become 



936 YoTJNG American's 

an extensive dealer in cattle, and was rich. 
When he heard the decision of the lower court, 
in respect to the Mariposas claim, he imn^^di- 
ately executed a deed of one-half his entire 
landed property, and offered it to Mrs. Fremont, 
saying, "Your husband provided for me when 
I was poor, and now that I have become rich, 
you must allow me to show you a little kind- 
ness in return." He was grieved, when he 
learned that this generous gift was declined. 
Men are not found every day, with such warm 
hearts beating in their bosoms. 

After Fremont had been in California a while, 
his wife and family joined him. They did not 
go across the Rocky Mountains. They went 
by sea to Chagres, on the Isthmus ; then 
across the Isthmus by land, to Panama ; and 
then by sea, again, to San Francisco. At that 
time, living in California was attended with a 
great many privations and discomforts. The 
kind of life to which Mrs. Fremont found her- 
self introduced, was very different from the 
comfortable and luxurious one to which she had 
always been accustomed at home. But she had 
at command something of the spirit of her father 
and her husband. She determined she would make 
this new life not only tolerable but pleasant ; and 



Life of Fremont. 237 



she accomplished that purpose. She adapted 
herself to the new circumstances around her. 
She nobly, and like a true woman, as she is, con- 
quered all difficulties, and succeeded, by her 
own efforts alone, in making their home a com- 
fortable one. I say all this, and am strongly 
tempted to say more in the same strain, be- 
cause I wish you to see that Charles Fremont 
has a wife who is worthy of him. It requires 
some heroism on my part, to say it, though ; 
for I am running the risk of her displeasure. 
Having said as much as this, however, I may as 
well say a little more ; for I can bear a hard 
scolding about as well as a moderate one. It 
is well known — for it is a matter of record, 
of which any one may easily satisfy himself, if 
he will — that when the people of California 
were beginning to take measures to apply to 
congress for admission into the Union as a 
State, Fremont, with many others from the 
Southern States, set himself sternly and reso- 
lutely against having the Constitution framed 
so as to allow slaves there. Though brought 
up in the midst of slavery, he was not in love 
with it, and he did not wish to have slaves in- 
troduced into the territory, when it should be 
adopted into the sisterhood of the States. Well, 



238 Young Amitrican's 



there was a great deal of discussion, both in 
public and in private circles, on the question 
whether young California should be christened 
as a slave State or as a free State. During the 
period of this controversy, some of the men who 
were in favor of framing the constitution so as 
to embrace the feature of slavery-— knovidng, 
wise men that they were, the immense force of 
female influence — used all the means they could 
command with the few ladies who then lived 
in the territory, to convince them that it was 
best to have slaves. " Don^t you see," so these 
men reasoned, " that you can*t get anybody 
to do your house-work for you. It always 
will be so, until we have slavery here. How 
are you, southern ladies, who were brought 
up without knowing anything about w^ork, go- 
ing to get along without servants ? and how 
are you going to get servants, unless you have 
slaves?" Some such reasoning as this, was 
used with Jessie Fremont. And w^hat reply do 
you think she made ? It was a reply worthy 
of a heroine ; and to understand how much of 
heroism and self-sacrifice were involved in it, 
you must recollect that she had from her infan- 
cy been brought up tenderly; that she had been 
surrounded by servants who anticipated all her 



Life of Fremont. 239 

wants, and left her with scarcely any hibor to 
be done for herself, much less for others. This 
is v/hat she said : *' Rather than have slavery in 
California, Til do my oion work, I have done it 
so far ; and Vll do it stilV This is what she 
said. I heard it from one who was on the 
ground at the time, and whose word I can trust. 
It was evident enough that she meant what she 
said, too. 

There boys, (Uncle Frank knocks hard on 
the table, after the manner of the speaker in 
congress, when he makes up his mind that he 
will restore order to a noisy house,) I guess that 
will do now. You may, if you please, reserve 
the remainder of your stamping and clapping 
until another time. I am getting in a hurry to 
go on. At this rate, we shall not finish our talk 
about Charles Fremont and his adventures, 
until Macaulay gets his History of England, as 
he has promised to do, " down to a time which 
is within the memory of men now living." 

The period arrived when the question as 
to the introduction of slavery into California 
must be decided. It was decided ; and thanks 
to such men as Charles Fremont — and such wo- 
men, for I cannot help saying so, as Jessie 
Fremont — the constitution was framed so as to 



^40 Young American's 

exclude slavery. I think that was a right deci- 
sion. California was then free ; and it would 
seem to have been wTong to plant slavery there- 
California was admitted into the Union as a free 
State. Of course the infant State had to choose 
two senators — each of the States, you know, 
small as well as great, sends two, and only two 
—and one of the men wlio were chosen was 
Charles Fremont. Senators, I need scarcely tell 
you, are elected for six years. But, according 
to a provision in the constitution, one-third of 
the entire number must go out on each alter- 
nate fourth of March. This arrangement is 
made, so that the evil will be avoided of ever 
having the body made up entirely or mostly of 
new men. The term of one of these Califor- 
nia senators, therefore, must have been a broken 
one, while the other reached through the whole 
six years. To decide which of the two senators 
should serve during the long term, and which 
during the short one, they drew^ lots. The 
short term fell to Fremont — it comprised only 
some six months — and the long one to the other 
senator, Mr. William M. Gwyn. The senators 
took their seats on the 10th of September, 1850, 
the next day after our far-western sister was ad- 
mitted into the Union. Fremont was in the sen- 



Life of Fremont. 241 

ate-chamber only a little over three weeks. At 
the expiration of that period, the long session 
of congress, whicli was drawing to a close when 
he took his seat, adjourned until the December 
following, when the short session commenced. 
At this session, however, Fremont, who was 
suffering severely from neuralgia, growing out 
of a fever he had taken on the isthmus, while re- 
turning from Washington, was unable to be 
present. Taking into account, therefore, the 
very short period of his services in congress, we 
could not reasonably expect that he would have 
accomplished a very considerable amount af 
senatorial labor. And yet, by referring to the 
proceedings of congress at that time, we find 
that he was just as industrious, and energetic, 
and earnest, in his legislative career, as he uni- 
formly had been before, in driving forward every 
desirable scheme which his heart was set upon. 
I find the man always living for a purpose— a 
high purpose — no less than for the best inter- 
ests of his countrymen, throughout our widely- 
extended republic, though often at the sacrifice 
of his own interests and those of his family. I 
believe that if there is a selfish spot in the whole 
constitution of Charles Fremont, it is so small 

that it would be difficult to find it. 
21 



S42 Young American's 

In the short space of twenty-one working 
days, he introduced eighteen bills to the con- 
sideration of the senate, all of which, as I could 
show you, had we time to examine them, were 
calculated to be of essential service to the 
country, an despecially to his own infant State, 
in which he felt the deepest interest. One of 
these bills provided for the opening of a wagon- 
road between the western frontiers of Missouri 
and the Pacific ocean, a bill which has never 
been passed, though I think it ought to have 
been long ago. He was seldom absent from 
his seat, while the senate were in session. He 
was never idle for a moment. When a vote 
was to be taken on any measure, he was always 
found — -just where our senators, too often, are 
not found— at his post ; and the records show 
that, in casting his votes, he was true to his 
constituents, to the constitution, to the coun- 
try, to the promptings of his judgment, and a 
sense of his accountability to God. Nor was 
this all. Though, at that time, but thirty-seven 
years of age, he showed a ripeness in his know- 
ledge of intricate matters of legislation, which 
astonished the wisest heads in congress. He 
proved himself to be a statesman, as well as an 
explorer and a soldier. With his strong com- 



Life of Fremont. 243 

mon-sense, and the wonderful facility with 
which he is able to make himself master of any 
subject— a facility which, one of his early tutors 
informed ime, seemed almost electric — he had 
become familiar with the different branches of 
our government, and with the working of the 
machinery by which they were carried on. He 
showed, pretty clearly, not onl}^ that he could 
lead his countrymen across the Rocky Moun- 
tains and the Sierra Nevada, but that he was 
capable of leading them in their halls of national 
legislation, and, in fact, o^ being their leader in a 
still higher position. 



244 Young American's 



Chapter XIII. 

AS I remarked before, incidentally, while 
on his journey homeward from Washing- 
ton, in crossing the Isthmus, Fremont took the 
fever which is so common to that section of the 
country, and this illness hindered him, for a 
long time, from attending to any kind of busi- 
ness. As soon, however, as the genius of dis- 
ease let go his hold of him, we find the man 
busily engaged in the traffic of cattle. It was 
necessary for him to do something which pro- 
mised him a pretty respectable income ; for, 
while he had been at work for his countrymen, 
at his own expense, it may well be presumed 
that he had managed to get out of pocket. 
Where there is a constant going out^ without 
any correspondent coming in, it requires but a 
very slight knowledge of figures to discover that 
there must be something of a deficit after a 
while. There was a deficit, just for this reason, 
in Fremont's purse; and so he determined that 
he would make it up. He had a little money, 



Life of Fremont. 245 

thanks to the kindness of some friends who 
were willing to trust him, in consideration of 
what he had done for his country ; and he 
invested it in buying cattle. He sold them 
at a considerable profit. An opportunity soon 
offered of supplying a great number of cattle to 
the United States government. I'll tell you 
how it happened. The President, some time 
previously, had, in obedience to an act of con- 
gress, appointed three commissioners to make 
treaties with the Indians in California. These 
commissioners, when they came into the coun- 
try, found that there was a great deal of trouble 
between the Indians and the gold-diggers. The 
poor savages, as the different gold placers, on 
which they had lived, were taken possession of 
by the whites, were driven off, to shift for them- 
selves. They were consequently greatly en- 
raged against our people, and improved every 
opportunity to do them mischief. The com- 
missioners saw, at a glance, what was to be 
done. It was to persuade the Indians to leave 
peaceably, and to supply them with provisions 
until they could maintain themselves. Many 
of the Indians, who had already been removed, 
were in a situation bordering on starvation. It 

was necessary to help them immediately. A 
20^ 



246 Young American's 

treaty was made with them. It was stipulated, 
on the part of the commissioners, that the In- 
dians, in consideration of their removal from the 
gold lands, should receive a supply of beef suf- 
ficient for their maintenance. Proposals w^ere 
made for furnishing a specified quantity of beef. 
Of the answers to these proposals, Fremont's 
was most satisfactory, and was accepted. He 
supplied the commissioners with beef to the 
amount of a million and a quarter of pounds, 
and took drafts on the treasury of the United 
States for his pay. The drafts, however, were 
not paid until a long time after they became 
due, and the failure to pay them made Fremont 
a vast deal of trouble. 

" But why did the government dishonor the 
drafts, sir?" 

Why, the treaty wasn't ratified ; so that 
there was no money appropriated to pay the 
expenses involved in the treaty. 

"And did Fremont lose all he paid for the 
cattle?" 

No; he got his pay, after a long time; but 
it required a special act of congress to enable 
him to obtain the money. There was great 
unanimity, in both houses, on the passage of 
the bill. Nobody could doubt but the sum he 



Life of Fremont. 247 

claimed was actually due him ; and it was all 
paid, with the interest. 

In the autumn of the year 1850, Fremont re- 
ceived a high compliment from the kingdom of 
Prussia ; and it was rendered doubly acceptable, 
as it came through the hands of Baron Hum- 
boldt, the world-renowned explorer and geo- 
grapher, who accompanied the testimonial with 
a very flattering letter of his own. The com- 
pliment to which I alhide was the golden 
medal of honor, accorded hij the hingfor '''' 'progress 
in the scle?ices,^'' Baron Humboldt says in his 
letter : " You have disphiyed a noble courage 
in long-protracted expeditions ; braved all the 
dangers of cold and famine ; enriched all the de- 
partments of natural science, and illustrated a 
vast country, which before was almost un- 
know^Q to us. A merit so rare has been ac- 
knowledged by a sovereign warm-ly interested 
in the progress of physical geography. The 
king commands me to offer you the grand 
golden medal destined for those who have ex- 
celled in scientific researches."* From the 
» ■ 

* The French scholar, who has access to the original, will 
perceive that I have trauslate.l the latter part of this sen- 
tence very freely. I cannot readily give it a more literal 
rendering, without marring what I conceive to be the sense 



248 Young American's 

Royal Geographical Society, in London, Fre- 
mont received another flattering testimonial, in 
the shape of the Founder's Medal. 

In the spring of 1852, Fremont, with his 
family, crossed the Atlantic, and spent nearly a 
year in England, and on the Continent. He 
was treated with the greatest consideration, 
wherever he went. In London and Paris, 
especially, he was received with enthusiasm, 
on account of his sacrifices to science, and for 
the splendid results secured by his researches. 
His name, at this period, was known, and his 
achievements spoken of with adrnkation, all 
over the civilized world. 

Some time after his return from Europe, 
in August, 1853, he started on his fifth and 
last exploring expedition. The main object 
of it was to complete the exploration which 
he had previously found it necessary to aban- 
don, on account of the ignorance of his guide, 
and the terrible consequences which his inca- 
pacity occasioned. This expedition, like the 
previous one, was fitted out at the joint ex- 
pense of Colonel Benton and himself. He was 

of it. The reader may, however. So I'll give him the ex- 
act language : Qui ont travaille a desprogres scieniljiques* 



Life of Fremont. 249 



determined to find a pass through which a 
wagon-road might be constructed ; and he 
hoped also, at the same time, to be able to solve 
the problem as to the proper location of a rail- 
road route to the Pacific. 

The party had made the necessary arrange- 
ments, and were ready to leave the frontiers of 
Missouri in the month of September ; but their 
leader found himself unable to proceed, on 
account of illness, and was obliged to return 
to St. Louis. His party, in obedience to his 
instructions, went on without him to Salt 
Creek, a district of country some two hundred 
miles inland from Westport, where there was 
plenty of grass and water for the cattle, and 
bufialo-hunting for the men. They remained 
encamped there until Fremont was able to 
rejoin them, which was not until the close of 
October. 

On the 14th of December, they crossed the 
Cochatope Pass, and, although it was an un- 
usually severe winter, they found only four 
inches of snow on the level. The access was 
easy. They had begun, however, at this time, 
to get short of provisions, and serious troubles 
awaited them further on. A few days after 
from the pass, they were obliged to 



250 Young American's 

ascend a very steep mountain, covered, at the 
time, with snow, three or four feet deep. The 
head mule, packed with the buffalo robes of the 
camp, had got up about two hundred feet, 
when his hind legs sank down into the snow, 
so deep tliat he tumbled over, and turning 
somerset after somerset, came down to the 
base of the mountain. In his descent, he 
brought down nearly all the animals, fifty-four 
in number, many of them with riders. .They 
all came tumbling down together, rolling over 
and over. One mule and one horse were killed. 
The next morning they succeeded in ascending 
the mountain, and encamped upon its summit, 
where the snow was four feet deep. That night, 
the thermometer sank to thirty degrees below 
zero. The men stood to their waists in the 
snow, guarding the animals, to prevent their 
running away, because there was nothing for 
them to eat. In going down the other side of 
the mountain, the day following, they broke their 
large tent-pole, and were consequently obliged 
to sleep in the open air upon the snow, with no 
covering but their blankets, after that. Pretty 
cold comfort they must have had of it, I fancy, 
with the mercury away down towards the bulb, 
beyond hailing distance. 



Life of Fremont. 253 

" It is a mystery to me how they managed 
to do their sleeping and eating." 

Well, as to the eating 23art, the most difficult 
problem to solve, I believe, was not how to eat, 
but how to get something to eat. As to how they 
managed their sleeping, after they broke their 
tent-pole, I confess I need some light myself. 

Some of the scenery encountered in crossing 
the Rocky Mountains by this route, is described 
by Mr. Carvalho, the gentleman who was con- 
nected with the expedition, as a daguerreo- 
typist, as wild and rugged in the extreme. 

So long a time had elapsed before any news 
of Fremont's party, after leaving the frontier, 
reached Washington, that his friends began to 
have serious fears respecting his fate. At 
length, however, as late as April, 1854, be- 
tween four and five months after he left the 
Missouri river, tidings of his safety were 
brought by Mr. Babbitt, vi^ho had charge of 
the mail from Utah eastward. He did not 
come by the overland route. He first went to 
California ; then down the Pacific coast, and 
so onward by the way of the Isthmus. It was 
about the 8th of February that he met Fre- 
mont's party, while he was on his way west- 
ward from the Great Salt Lake. Mr. Carvalho 
22 



254 Young American's 



sent home a letter by Mr. Babbitt, which was 
published at the time, and which contains some 
thrilling particulars of the sufferings of the 
men before they were so fortunate as to meet 
with Mr. Babbitt. He says they "had lived 
fifty days on horse-flesh, and for the last forty- 
eight hours before they were relieved, had been 
without a morsel of food of any kind." Will 
you listen to a few paragraphs from Mr. Car- 
valho's letter? You'll find them racy, take my 
word for it. I have no fears that there will 
be any sleeping while I read. He says : "When 
an animal gave out, so that he could not pro- 
ceed any further, he was shot down by the 
India.ns with us, who immediately cut his 
throat, and saved all the blood, which, when 
boiled, served, together with the entrails, as 
the meal for the whole party. No part of the 
animal was suffered to be wasted. The bones 
were partially burned, to afford some little em- 
ployment to the teeth, which were becoming 
dull from disuse. The hide was also divided 
in equal proportions, by the man whose duty it 
was to officiate as cook. The passions of the 
men were so distorted by their privations, that 
they were not satisfied with the cook's division 
of the hide ; but one man turned his back, 



Life of Fremont. 255 

while another asked him who was to have this 
piece, and that, and so on, until all was divid- 
ed. The same process was gone through with 
in regard to the horse-soup. The hide was 
roasted so as to burn off the hair, and make it 
crisp. The hoofs and shins were disposed of 
by regular rotation. The men all lay out in 
the open air, without covering, except their 
blankets and robes. I have been awakened to 
go on guard in the morning-watch, when look- 
ing around, my companions appeared like so 
many graves, covered with eight to twelve 
inches of fresh snovv\ Some of the animals 
would eat the snow, while others would not. 
To keep them alive, we had to melt snov/ in 
our camp-kettles, and give it to tliem to drink. 
We lived on horse-meat fifty days. At the be- 
ginning of this period of peril, Fremont ad- 
dressed us in a few words on the prospect v/hich 
was before us. He told us that it depended on 
ourselves w^hether we should get through the 
difficulties, which he frankly admitted would be 
great and dreadful, that we must now encoun- 
ter. He exhorted us to resolution and perse- 
verance. He informed us that on his last ex- 
pedition, a detachment of men whom he had 
sent away from the main body of tlie party, 



256 Young American's 

after provisions, had been guilty of eating one 
of their number. He expressed his abhorrence 
of the act, in the strongest terms, and told us, 
in conclusion, that he would shoot the first 
man who should propose, under any circum- 
stances, that we should eat each other. Then 
he made us swear that w^e w^ould not, come 
what might, lift a hand to do such a deed. We 
all promptly took the oath. It was a most 
impressive scene, that of twenty-two men, on a 
snowy mountain, with bare heads, and hands 
and eyes upraised to heaven, uttering the 
solemn words 'So help me, God!' the valley 
echoing the words ' So help me, God !' I then 
remembered the words of the Psalmist, and 
felt assured of our final safety : ' They wan- 
dered in the wilderness, in a solitary way. 
They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and 
thirsty, their souls fainted within them, and 
they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and 
he delivered them out of all their distresses.' " 

Fremont, as well as the rest of the party, 
towards the last of their period of extreme suf- 
fering, was entirely barefoot. Some of the 
men wore pieces of raw hide, for sandals ; but 
they became so hard and stiff by the frost, that 
the wearer found them more uncomfortable and 



Life of Fremont. 



257 



inconvenient than it was to have nothing: at all 



on his feet. 




COOKING IN THK CAMP. 



A large number of Indians were encountered 
one day, who inclined to be a little sauc}^ and 
troublesome. They came to the camp, and 
traded some with the company. About nine 
o'clock at night, after placing a double guard 
around their animals, and while they were re- 
galing themselves on fat venison, the party 
were surprised to hear the sound of loud 
voices, apparently from women. It w^as soon 
found that a whole Indian village, men and 
women, were on their way to the camp, in pro- 
cession. The warriors were all armed, and 
22* 



258 Young American's 



headed by a man who had been some time in 
Mexico, and had a little smattering of the Span- 
ish language. He acted as interpreter. From 
him, it came to be understood, pretty soon, 
what the Indians wanted. A horse, belonging 
to one of their squaws, they said, had been 
slaughtered the day before, by the Delawares in 
Fremont's party. It was represented to have 
been an immensely valuable horse, worth a 
mint of money ; and they had come, in this 
rather pompous manner, to get pay for it. 
Fremont wouldn't see the Indians himself. He 
communicated with them by means of Mr. 
Carvalho. He didn't wish to make himself too 
common to them, well knowing that he would 
increase his power over them, and be more 
likely to awe them into good behavior,^ if he 
kept himself shut up pretty closely, and only 
showed himself on great state occasions. He 
sent word to them, that his Delawares had 
done wrong in killing the horse, and that it 
should be paid for. Then they came around 
the camp, very much as wasps, and bees, and 
hornets sometimes gather around a vessel of 
sweetmeats, when it is exposed near a window, 
in a warm summer's day. They wanted a 
good deal of everything, in payment for the 



Life of Fremont. 259 

horse. To start with^ — what modest fellows ! 
— they wanted a keg of gunpowder. This de- 
mand Fremont absolutely refused. He directed 
his men not to barter or give to any Indian a 
single grain of powder. The Indians got an- 
gry at this rebuff. They declared they would 
attack the camp, and bring the party to terms. 
After an expense of a good deal of patience, the 
troublesome visitors were pacified for the night, 
and went off. At supper, on the next day, 
however, fifty or sixty warriors, all armed with 
rifles, and bows, and arrows, rode np to the 
camp, on a gallop. They, too, had come to 
get paid for that valuable horse. The beast 
didn't belong to the squaw, according to their 
story, but to one of the Indians then present. 
If they were not paid very roundly, in the 
shape of red cloth, and blankets, and purses, 
and all sorts of fine things, they were going to 
fall upon the whole company, and put them all 
to death. What was to be done ? Mr. Carvalho 
thought it a pretty serious matter, and he so 
represented it to his chief. Fremont told him 
not to submit to their unjust demands, and, at 
the same time, laughed heartily at their threats. 
*' I could not comprehend this calmness," says 
Mr. Carvalho. "I deemed our position, sur- 



260 Young American's 

rounded by armed savages, alarming in the last 
degree, and I must have expressed my alarm in 
my countenance. Fremont, without apparent- 
ly noticing my nervous state, remarked, that 
he knew the Indian character perfectly, and he 
was sure there was not sufficient powder to 
load a single rifle in the possession of the w^hole 
tribe. ' If they had any ammunition,' said he, 
' they would, before this time, have surrounded 
us, and killed us, and stolen what they now 
demand of us.' Then he tore a leaf from his 
journal, and handing it to me, said, ' Here, 
take this, and place it against a tree, at a dis- 
tance near enough to allow you to hit it every 
time. Then discharge your Colt's six-shooters 
at it. Fire at intervals of ten or fifteen seconds. 
Call the attention of the Indians to the fact, 
that it is not necessary for white men to load 
their arms.' I did as I was directed. After 
the first shot, the Indians pointed to their own 
rifles, as much as to say, they could do the 
same, if they had happened to have any pow- 
der. However, without lowering my arm, I 
fired a second shot. This startled them. I 
fired another. Their curiosity and amazement 
were increased. A fourtli tinje, instead of dis- 
charging the piece myself, I placed it in the 



Life of Fremont. 261 

hands of the chief, and told hhn to discharge it, 
which he did, hitting the paper, as I had done. 
The fifth and sixth times, two other Indians 
fired. I had another pistol ready loaded, which 
I displayed before the astonished gaze of the 
Indians, and scared them into the acknowledg- 
ment that they were all at our mercy, for that 
we could kill them as fast as we liked, if we 
took a notion to do so." After this exhibition, 
they came down wonderfully in their demands. 
The horse seemed, then, to have been a much 
less likely animal than he was represented to 
have been a quarter of an hour previously. 
With an air of great humility, they begged, as 
a special favor, that the whites would give 
them a few blankets in exchange for some of 
their horses. The trade was effected ; but the 
horses turned out, afterwards, to have been 
lame and worthless. The Indians asked the 
privilege of remaining in camp all night, as it was 
nearly dark when they got through with their 
trading, and they had rode, according to their 
own account, thirty miles that day. Permis- 
sion from head quarters was given them. But 
eleven men were on guard at once, during the 
entire night, all well armed. The Indians, no 
doubt, wished to remain in the camp, for the 



262 Young American's 

purpose of seizing a favorable moment, and 
running off with the horses. They must have 
been sadly disappointed, when they saw the 
preparations made for mounting guard. In the 
morning, they cpiietly went their way, to steal 
horses where they could obtain them at less 
risk of life. A little additional wisdom had 
been beaten into them. 

One extremely cold day, a man by the name 
of Fuller suddenly gave out. He had been 
on foot for some weeks, and had become ex- 
hausted and unable to proceed. The snow 
was very deep, and his feet were badly frozen. 
Two or three men, including Mr. Carvalho, 
were with him, behind the rest of the party. 
He insisted that his companions should leave 
him behind, and hasten to the camp for relief. 
Not being able to render the poor man any assist- 
ance by remaining, they wrapped his blankets 
around him, and left him on the trail. They 
searched in vain for material with which to build 
him a fire. Nothing was visible but a wild 
waste of snow. They were badly crippled, and 
walked so slowly, that they did not arrive at 
the camp until ten o'clock at night, vv-hen it 
was snowing furiously. Fremont sent a Mexi- 
can, bv the name of Frank, with two of the 



Life of Fremont. 263 

best mules, to the assistance of Fuller. There 
was not a dry eye in the whole camp that night. 
The men sat up, anxiously awaiting the return 
of their companions. At daylight, as the mes- 
senger and Fuller had not appeared at the 
camp, Fremont sent three Delawares, well 
mounted, to look out for them. About ten 
o'clock, one of them returned, with the Mexi- 
can and two mules. Frank was badly frozen. 
He had lost the track. Bewildered and almost 
stupefied with cold, he had sunk down, still, 
however, holding to the animals. In this situa- 
tion, he was discovered by the Delaware Indian, 
who returned with him. The other two Dela- 
wares, in the course of the da}', brought in Ful- 
ler. He was found awake, but almost dead 
from cold and faintness. Fremont rendered him 
all the assistance in his power. So did all those 
brave men ; for Fuller was universally respected 
and beloved by his companions. In the dreary 
place where the party had made their encamp- 
ment, Fremont remained three days, to allow 
poor Fuller time to recruit, and afterwards as- 
signed to him the best mule for him to ride. 
When the party set out, a man walked on either 
side of Fuller, to support him. Poor man ! he 
lived only a few days longer. Tenderly and 



2G4 Young American's 

sadly, his companions made his lonely grave. 
The only funereal rites they could give him v^^ere 
tears. The only monument they could rear 
for him was an imperishable one in their own 
hearts. 

An entertaining story of the capture of a 
w^olf, is told by Mr. Carvalho. He says, that, 
one night, a mule was found to be missing. At 
daylight, a number of Indians, with Mr. Carval- 
ho, sallied out in search of him. " After looking 
through the woods for an hour," says he, " we 
discovered the mule, lying dead, with his lariat 
drawn around his neck. It had becom^e loose, 
and, trailing along the ground, had become en- 
tangled with the branches of an old tree, and, 
in his endeavors to get himself free, he was 
strangled. We were attracted to the spot by 
the howling of wolves ; and w^e found that the 
carcass had been partially devoured by them. 
Our engineer, who wanted a wolf-skin for a 
saddle-cloth, determined to remain, to kill one 
of them. I assisted him to ascend a high tree, 
immediately over the body of the mule, untied 
the Jariat, and attached his rifle to one end of 
it. By this means, he pulled the rifle up to 
him. The rest of the party returned to camp." 
About four o'clock in the afternoon, he was still 



Life of Fremont. 265 

out, and some buffalo meat was roasted and sent 
to him. The messenger found him still in the 
tree, quietly awaiting an opportunity to kill 
his wolf. He had caught, it would seem, some- 
thing of the spirit of his leader, and didn't 
choose to be foiled, when he set out to do any- 
thing. He had made up his mind to get pos- 
session of a wolf-skin, and the w^olf-skin he 
meant to have, at all hazards. There he was, 
when the man came to bring his dinner, quietly 
waiting for the moment to arrive, when a 
hungry wolf, attracted by the remnant of the 
mule near the tree, should foolishly come along, 
and give him a chance to throw the lariat over 
his neck, or discharge the contents of his rifle 
into his head. His companion remonstrated 
with him, and told him he had better come 
down, and return to the camp. But he only 
shook his head, and beckoned to the messenger 
to be off wuth himself, so as not to frighten 
away any wolf that might happen to have scent- 
ed the carcass of the mule. There he remained 
until night. His supper was sent to him. 

" But how^ did it happen. Uncle Frank, that 
the party w^ere willing to wait so long for him? 
I should think they would have got out of pa- 
tience, and started off." 
23 



266 Young American's 

The wolf adventure occurred while the party 
were encamped, for some days, in one spot ; so 
that the persevering wolf-hunter didn't detain 
the expedition. Indeed, as you have surmised, 
no affair of that description could have stopped 
the party of Charles Fremont one minute after 
the hour determined upon for breaking up the 
camp. It was nearly dark, when some of the 
party, having become alarmed for the safety of 
the wolf-hunter, w^ent out to attempt to bring 
him in. They met him on the way. He had 
been successful. A wolf had been found, dar- 
ing enough to risk his life for the sake of a 
few morsels of the body of the dead mule. 
He had come within the reach of the rifle of 
the hunter, and he had fallen dead, while 
quietly eating his supper. When the captor 
of the wolf was discovered, he was slowly drag- 
ging the lifeless body of his victim, along to- 
wards the camp. The wolf w\as a very large 
one ; and it was by no means an easy task for 
one man to drag him so far. 

One night, during the progress of the expe- 
dition, the man who had the animals in charge, 
came into the camp to warm himself. It was 
a bitterly cold night, and the man thought he 
would rather run the risk of losing an animal 



Life of Fremont. 267 

or two, than the risk of getting his fingers and 
toes bitten by Jack Frost. As soon as Fremont 
saw him at the fire, he asked him if lie had ob- 
tained another man to relieve him whih^ lie was 
off guard. The transgressor was obliged to 
answer in the negative. Fremont reprimanded 
him severely, and punished him him by forcing 
him to go on foot ail the next day. 

" But, Uncle Frank, I thought nearly all the 
party were obliged to travel on foot. I don't 
see how this could be any punishment." 

This aftair happened before the loss of so 
many of the mules. None of the men were 
obliged to go on foot at that time. Some of 
the party thought that this man was too se- 
verely punished. They didn't see the neces- 
sity for keeping up such a strict discipline. 
But they altered their minds the next day. 
When the animals were driven to the camp 
in the morning, five of them were missing. 
More than half that day was spent in an at- 
tempt to find them. The Delawares belonging 
to the party, informed Fremont that they had 
found the tracks of moccasins in the vicinity, 
which must have been worn by a band of 
Cheyenne Indians. Fremont, with his party, 
followed the tracks. Prints of horse-shoes were 



268 Young American's 



soon discovered, which proved that they were 
on the trail of the robbers ; for the horses of 
the Indians are never shod. They followed on 
until they came to a Cheyenne Indian village. 
Here they found the animals, as well as the 
thieves. On examination, the Indians confessed 
that theyliad stolen the animals ; and they gave 
the particulars as to tlie mode in which the 
theft had been accomplished. They said that 
they had kept a sharp look-out upon the camp, 
waiting for a good chance to run off with the 
horses and mules ; and that, just as soon as the 
man on guard left his post to warm himself, 
they rushed into the midst of the herd, and 
drove off as many as they could. They said, 
moreover, that, if the man had remained away 
only a very little while longer, they would have 
succeeded in running off with every horse and 
mule belonging to the expedition. So you see 
the lives of the w^iole party were put in peril, 
when that man left his post; for they were, at 
that time, in a territory abounding with hostile 
Indians, and if their animals had been lost, the 
men would have fallen an easy prey to the 
savages. Do you think, boys, that the punish- 
ment of the delinquent man was too severe? 
*'No, sir; I don't think it was half severe 



Life of Fremont. 269 

enough, considering all the mischief that might 
have been brought about by his running 
away." 

Ah, but in such a case as this, one must not 
adjust the measure of a man's punishment alto- 
gether by the amount of mischief which is likely 
to follow his transgression. The intention of 
the transgressor as well as the consequences of 
thetransgression,mustbe taken into the account. 
The man didn't mean to expose the lives of his 
companions to peril. He didn't mean, even, to 
let the Indians have those few mules and horses. 
He thought there would not be much risk in 
being absent for a little time — a very little time, 
for he w^asn't going to be gone long. Then, 
too, the poor man was in a suffering condition. 
He was very cold. No doubt, he was in dan- 
ger of getting his fingers nipped by the frost. 
To be sure, his being half frozen didn't justify 
him in leaving his post, at such a time ; but it 
ought to be taken into the account, in deter- 
mining the question as to how severely he 
should be punished. 

One of the happy results of this expedition 

was, that a desirable route was found for a road 

across the Rocky Mountains. Far less snow 

was found, in crossing by the pass which Fre- 
23* 



270 Young Americanos 

mont selected at this time, than he encountered 
in either of the other passes, although it was 
during the month of December that this last 
expedition crossed, and that winter was an un- 
usually severe one all over the country. It 
was about the first of May, when Fremont, 
with such of his party as he had retained, ar- 
rived at San Francisco. The citizens of this 
place tendered him a public dinner. He did 
not accept it, though ; but, without giving 
himself time to recover from his fatigue and 
exhaustion, he hurried off to Washington, by 
sea. He was anxious to give the benefit of his 
explorations to congress, as they were, at that 
time, discussing different projects for construct- 
ing a road across the continent. 

In the spring of 1855, Fremont, with his 
family, removed his residence to the city of 
New York. While residing here, in compara- 
tive seclusion, mingling very little with the 
world, but occupied industriously in preparing 
the details of his last expeditions for the press, 
he was nominated, by a convention represent- 
ing a very numerous class from different politi- 
cal parties, as their candidate for the highest 
office in the gift of the people. Though loving 
retirement, and, personally, preferring it to 



Life of Fremont. 271 

political life, he did not, considering the import- 
ance of tli8 principles involved in this particu- 
lar presidential election, feel at liberty to de- 
cline the nomination so unanimously made, and 
so earnestly pressed upon him,. 

'• I should like to Ivnovv, precisely, what these 
principles are, Uncle Frank." 

Well, I should like to have you know. I 
don't believe it is desirable that young people 
should be great politicians. I shouldn't think 
it well to lead a boy of twelve through the 
whole of that great thicket which we call 
political economy. I shouldn't wish to fill his 
head brimful of the tariff and such things. Nor 
should I care a straw whether the patriotism 
that was glowing under his vest, at this age, 
expanded itself in zeal for the Democratic or 
the Whig party. But there are many things 
about our government, which I should like to 
have him understand, nevertheless. There are 
higher principles involved in this contest than 
those which are estimated in dollars and cents. 
The gr^'at question to be decided is. Shall 
slavery he kept within its present boundaries, or shall 
it extend its influence over territories now free? 
Extension or non-extension — that is the ques- 
tion. Now, there are a great many men in 



272 Young American's 

this republic, who say that slavery ought to be 
extended. Such men will very likely vote for 
a candidate who agrees with them in sentiment. 
There is another class of men — and a very large 
class it is, too — who, while they have no dis- 
position to interfere with slavery in our South- 
ern States, honestly, conscientiously, and firmly 
believe that it ought to go no further. More- 
over, they are determined that it shall go no 
further, if peaceable and rational means can 
arrest its progress. To see clearly the reasons 
that this class of men have for taking this 
course, you have only to glance at two or 
three things in the history of our government: 
In the year 181S,^the Southern people wanted 
to bring Louisiana into the Union as a Slave 
State. The Northern people were not willing. 
The measure was proposed in congress, and 
failed. The next year it was tried again, and 
again it failed. Then the Southern members, 
in 1820, proposed a compromise. They said, if 
the Northern members w^ould vote to bring in 
Missouri as a Slave State, they would unite 
with the opponents of slavery in the covenant, 
that, from that time, all the territory belong- 
ing, or which might belong to the United 
States, situated north of the line of thirty-six 



Life of Fremont. 273 

degrees and thirty minutes, should be forever 
free. That compromise was effected ; and for 
more than thirty years the great mass of the 
people, whether living at the North or at the 
Soatli, were satisfied with it. It was regarded 
almost as sacred as the constitution itself. But 
in 1854, when the large territories of Kansas 
and Nebraska w^ere to be organized, the South- 
ern members of congress, by the aid of a few 
Northern men — with whose principles and mo- 
tives we have now nothing to do — effected the 
repeal of that compact. They did it, so as to 
open a door for the admission of slaves into 
these territories. It ims a great wrong. It has 
wrought great mischief in our country. It has 
transferred the beautiful prairies of Kansas into 
a vast battle-field. It has caused strife, and 
bloodshed, and death. Peaceable citizens from 
the Free States go to that fair land to reside, 
with their families ; and, because they are in 
favor of making the territory a Free State, they 
are hunted dow^n by armed bands from Missouri, 
or driven from the country. They cannot vote. 
Men who have no homes in the territory, rush 
to the polls when the elections are held, drive 
away the actual settlers, and dishonestly vote 
themselves. Many of the strong advocates of 



274 Young American's 



the extension of slavery, men of influence and 
high standing, do not hesitate to declare their 
determination to thrust slavery into Kansas, 
at all hazards. 

In such circumstances as these, who can 
wonder that men, from all political parties, 
should rally in multitudes, under the banner 
of freedom, and take for their watch-word, No 
more slave teiTitory ? But I am dwelling longer 
on this topic than I intended. The nomination 
of Charles Fremont came from such men as 
these — men who have merged all minor con- 
siderations in the one great principle of stern 
and inflexible opposition to the extension of 
slavery. They believe they can safely trust 
this man to be their standard-bearer ; and so 
do I. 

I must tell you a little about the appearance 
of Fremont. He is not a large man. His 
height is five feet and nine inches. His form 
is well proportioned and graceful. His man- 
ners are pleasing in the extreme. No one can 
be in his company without admiring his easy 
and gentlemanly address. His eyes are blue and 
very large. He has a high forehead and a nose 
of the aquiline order. Like Moses and Paul, he 
never shaves ; though, unlike them, he always 



Life op Fremont. 275 

keeps his beard trimmed, and never allows it 
to grow long. As another of his biographers 
has said, ** Scarcely any trait of his charac- 
ter will impress a stranger sooner than his 
modesty. He never dwells upon his own 
achievements, and rarely alludes to them except 
when specially invited. He has a soft, clear, 
and gentle voice, and in conversation speaks de- 
liberately, but with the utmost precision and 
clearness." 



276 Young American's 



Chapter XIV. 

I MUST nov/ bring the history of Charles 
Fremont to a close. I would very willing- 
ly carry it on a few steps further ; but, in order 
to do so, it will be necessary to give Time a 
chance to make the man a little older. We 
have traced his history to a point where it joins 
the future ; and there we must leave it. 

When a minister has come to the end of his 
sermon, or gets so far along that he can see the 
end, you know he frequently tells his hearers 
that he will say a few words by way of af plica- 
tion. I understand this matter of application to 
be pretty much the same as the process which 
the carpenter sometimes resorts to, after he has 
driven his nails — he clinches them. By the way, 
1 have known some ministers spend a whole ser- 
mon in malting nails, or hammering away with 
^11 their might, at some little ones, of the three- 



Life of Fremoxt. S77 

penny grade, which somebody else had made, 
without so much as driving one of them. Of 
course they don't deal in these applications. They 
have nothing to apply. They have no nails to 
clinch. But men of earnestness and purpose 
are not- usually satisfied with one of their ser- 
mons, unless there are some things in it cal- 
culated to make the hearer a wiser and better 
man ; nor are they willing to dismiss the subject, 
until they have made him see these things and 
consider them. Now I think I must do a little 
as the clergy do, and treat you to an applica' 
tion. 

The truth is, I want you to catch the spirit 
of our hero. I want you to see what it was in 
him which secured his success in life, while so 
many others, w^ith much better advantages, have 
failed. I want you to understand all this, so 
that you may see the road that leads to your own 
success. I have held up Charles Fren:jont be- 
fore you as a model to study and imitate. Now, 
if I thought I had not done something to inspire 
in your breasts a high and noble ambition — if it 
should appear that you do not burn with a de- 
sire to imitate, as God shall give you the ability, 
such a model as I have laid before you, and 

that you are not full of resolution, and hope, 

24 



278 Young American's 

and courage, in respect to your own career, I 
should be sadly disappointed. Why, I am almost 
sure you have had such thoughts as these flit- 
ting across j'our mind, ever so many times, 
while we have been talking : " If I live, I am 
going to make a man that my country will 
have reason to be proud of. What do I care 
for a little study ? What if my lessons are a 
trifle hard ? I don't mind it. I don't care a 
button. I mean to plough right through all the 
hard spots. Charles did it, and I can do it. I'll 
make my mark in the world, if my life is spared. 
See if I don't." Tell me now, if you've not 
had some such thoughts as these. Yes, you 
have. I see it in your eyes, and I'm glad of it. 
I tell you, hoys, I would give more for one high 
resolve, fortified with firmness, than I would for 
fifty lessons from the best teacher in America. 
Yes, I am glad that you have formed such a 
noble resolution. It will require some patience, 
though, to carry out that resolution. You 
can't become a great and useful man, by a bril- 
liant system of vaultivg, like a rope-dancer. 
You must go up the stairs, as other distinguished 
men have done before you. You may proceed 
at a slow or at a more rapid pace ; but you 
must go step by step. There is no other way. 



Life of Fremont. 279 

You must " learn to labor and to wait." The 
way may sometimes seem a long one to you. 
I shouldn't wonder if, now and then, you 
thought your teachers made the path harder 
than necessary. It puzzles you, I suspect, 
always to see what connection there can be 
between sundry hard studies you have to pur- 
sue, and the bricrht career of usefulness to which 
you are looking forward. You don't exactly 
see what all the windins^s of a Latin or Greek 
verb have to do with your becoming a great 
man some day. But I tell you, my boy, that, 
aside from the useful lyractical knowledge you 
obtain, you cannot overcome one difficulty in 
study ; you cannot untie one hard knot in 
Euclid ; you cannot master one troublesome 
line in Virgil or Xenophon ; you cannot con- 
quer a single obstacle in your way up the hill — 
without reaping a rich reward for such an 
achievement. Don't you know, haven't you 
often seen, that when, by hard work, you have 
made one conquest in study, you have gained 
additional strength of purpose, so that you can 
make the next conquest more easily ? I am 
sure you have found it so. I have, hundreds 
of times ; and I have found, too, that one of 
worst things that could happen to me — because 



280 Young American's 

it diminished my self-reliance — was to allow 
myself to be foiled. 

I must not slide into the style of the preach- 
er. I must not mistake a bench in my summer- 
house for a pulpit. But I am deeply in earnest, 
when I urge you to study this model. I am 
not willing that any one of you should fail 
to see precisely how Charles Fremont made 
his w^ay to greatness and usefulness. It was 
not by one single trait of character. These 
elements, more than any other, have always 
been combined in his character — industry, C7iergy, 
firmness^ perseverance; and I may add that the 
whole were cemented together by 2)rmci2)h. 
There is nothing in the man, which has done so 
much to help him push his way forward, as 
his iron will. It has been worth more than all 
the gold in California to him. If he ever at- 
tempted to do anything, he did it. He never 
formed the habit of saying " I'll tr}^" He 
learned early in life, to say, " I'll do it." The 
first of these resolutions is pretty good. It is 
taught in the schools. It does very well as a 
watch-word for a boy who is to jog along, sleep- 
ily, over the old beaten road, content to be a 
CO m m on m an — often very com m o n , i n d eed . But 
it never did much for me. I hope those who 



Life of Fremont. 281 

have the same faith in it, that they have in the 
Apostles' Creed, w^ill pardon me if I should say 
plumply what is in my heart, that I don't much 
like it. "I'll do it." That's the motto for me. 
It v^^orks miracles, almost. The tutor, who once 
had charge of the education of Fremont, told me 
that when this boy was asked by any of his teach- 
ers to do a thing, no matter how difficult, he 
always did it. He never failed in anything he 
undertook. It is just there, I think — it is in 
that stern will — that we have no small part of 
the secret of Charles Fremont's remarkable 
triumph. You see it in the boy, as well as the 
man — whether he was tugging away at Virgil's 
verses, or scrambling up the highest peak in the 
Rocky Mountains ; v^hether he was wedding a 
wife, or conquering a small continent ; whether 
he was ploughing the snows of the dread Sierra^ 
or, like a whirlwind, driving the enemies of his 
country before him. 

Study this model, my boys. It is not per- 
fect — no human models are — but it embodies 
most, if not all, the elements of a great man, 
and will richly reward your careful and patient 
study ; for 

" Lives of great men all remind us 

"We can make our lives sublime, * 

24* 



282 Young American's Life of Fremont. 

And, departing, leave behind us 
Footprints in the sands of Time. 

Let us, then, be up and doing, 
With a heart for any fate ; 

Still achieving, still pursuing. 
Learn to labor, and to wait." 

And now, with the hope that you will make 
the most of this world, and that you will not 
neglect to lay up a treasure for yourselves in 
heaven, I bid you good-bye. 



THE END. 



THE LIFE OF 

GEORGE WASHINGTON, 

First President of the United States, 
BY JARED SPARKS, LL. D. 

NEW AND FINE EDITION, TWO VOLS. IN ONE. 
With Portrait, 674 pp. 12mo., Muslin, Price $1 25, 

"Let every mother's daughter's son 
Be taught the deeds of Washington." 

The materials for this volume have been drawn from a great va- 
riety of sources ; from the manuscripts at Mount Vernon, papers in 
the public offices of London, Paris, Washington, ajad all the old 
Thirteen States ; and also from the private papers of many of the 

f)rincipal leaders in the Revolution. The entire mass of manuscripts 
eft by General Washington, consisting of more than two hundred 
folio volumes, was in the author's hands ten years. From these 
materials it was his aim to select and combine the most important 
facts, tending to exhibit, in its true light, the character of Wash- 
ington. 



LIFE OF LOUIS KOSSUTH, 

Grovemor of Hungary; 

Including Notices of the Men and Scenes of the Hungarian Eevo- 
lutiou ; to which is added an Appendix, contain- 
ing his principal Speeches. 

BY P. C. HEADLEY, 

WITH AN INTR OD UC TION B Y HORA CE GREELE Y. 

ONE VOLUME, 461 PP. 12mO., STEEL PORTRAiT, MUSLIN. PRICE $1 25. 

Mr. Ileadley has written an excellent memoir of Kossuth. It 
details, in easy, perspicuous narrative, th« principal events of his 
life, bringing down the history almost to the present hour. — N. C. 
Advocate. 

It is written in an easy, animated style, adapted for the special 
purpose of the book. It is reliable and exceedingly interesting. A 
brief introduction by Mr. Greeley pitches the key note of the vol- 
ume, and will find a i-esponse, we doubt not, in the popular heart. 
— JV. Y, Organ. 

MILLER, ORTON & MULLIGAN, Publishers, 

25 Park Row, New York, and 107 Genesee st, Auburn. 



.iimulitr's file of |o|n €. J'nmDiit, 

CONTAINING ALSO FREMONT'S OAVN NAKEATIVES OF 

Explorations, Disc^ve ies, Adventures in Kansas, ITebraska, 
Oregon, and California; Unabridged. 

Of which the thirtieth 'housand is now ready. The only Life containing 
the Colonel'f Full Rt-portK, and the accukate and life-lixe poktbaits, 
evgriivKd by Rilckie, exprts.siy fur this book, and published for the first 
time iu this ediuon. 



WHAT THE PAPERS SAY! 

" The memoir 's tcritten with elpgavce andjidtlily ; but the most Talua- 
ble feiiture is Col. P s oic" iiuri at ve, \viiu;h lo one of any poiiticai 
party, who knows h<.)w to app eciate r al luaiihood, ciu read without ad- 
miring Hi'- c(>u>ao:e, iheie olutii.n. the furiitudt , the quick p-n-eption, 
and the sound judgment which are minortd forth lr<>m beginnii-g to end. 
"We wish the t>o<ik were iu the hands of evtry voter iu the laud." — iV, Y, 
Courier Sf Enquirtr. 

"A life of Fiemo'it not too ]org nor t<o much UEencnmbered with de- 
tails, but succinct, well writlt7i. and embraiitg th« leadiDg poiut> jn hia 
life, and a tli'Toujh exposur''^ of the .-iaudcts oi his enemies. The jour- 
nal is vtim.pltle and unabridged, is replete with .-tiiring adventures strik- 
inj^ incidents and liiir-hreadtn escapes."- Ai.baruj ISt (a Ragia er. 

'• Eviry man. whether a fri.-nd and supporter of Col. Fremont or nrt, 
should BUY AND HEAD THIS HOuK. Ir they kne* nothing of his great- 
ness before, thev will krmvv mutliwhen 'hey have read it, and if they 
knew urthing, they will have gained a store of education." — Detroit Daily 
Advrtiser. 

'• It is the m"st complete, and full, embracitsg a detailed account of his 
splendid career of ex/.lorutions, anu his briliiaut exploits in California." 
— 7'roi/ D'JIy Times 

" This b"'ok should rmd iciU be rend by every man who designs to place 
an hone^t man, a humane man, a capable man in the Presidential Chair." 
— ISewbwg Tunes, 

•' We cat! recommend the ' Life of Fremont,' o*' its awn merits as we do 
all other w'irks ca cjlatrd to enter aiu or int<-nsi our readers. It is 
more aUraclive than any oj our modern romances." — I'hiladelphia Daily 
Neirs. 

" This is an extraordinrry, readable and attractive volume. The me- 
moir, in a clejir style exhibits the admirable p' rson il characteii.stics of 
the distirgui hed personage of wbi'm it fr^-ats."— Worcester Mail. 

"At any tim- this would be a book of m/ense intMt^sf and vuliiah!e in- 
formation,, and at the present time, with so many as.sociation-' cluster- 
ing around its subject, it munt go irilh a rush " — Veinwvt Jtmrvni. 

•' The incidents in the iile of Cfl Fr* raont surpass, iu tt 'ange contrasts 
and striking vici-situdes, the most visionary dieamsofn ma nee."— i^z-ori- 
dence Trimc ipt. 

ig@= Single copies sent by mail, postage paid on receipt of price. 

Ask for iSmucker's Life of Fkemont, published by 

MILLBR, ORTON & MULLIGAN, 

25 Park Sow, Hew York; and 1C7 Genosee-st , Aubuna. 



A BOOK FOR EVERY REPUBLICAN! 

f ^e ^lepuliliOT f at:t| mxis its Canbiktes, 

Comprising the History, Principles, and Purpoees of the Republican Par- 
ty of tha United States, from the days of Thomas Jf-fferson to the pree- 
ent time; with Biographical siietches of Colonel John C- Fremont and 
William L. Dayton. By Benjamin F- Hall, Esq. One volume, over 500 
pages 12mo., with portraits. Price SI 00. 

REPUBLICANS EVERYWHERE will find the above work interesting 
and instructive. It contains just the matter which all should have with- 
in convenient reach. It is the Sharp's* Rifle of facts and arguments, 
effectual as a means of defense against the aas:iilants of the Principles and 
Purposes of the Republican Party. It contains, in addition to a concise 
Biography of the Republican Nominees, a connected History of the causo-s 
which led to the disruption of old parties, their abandonment of the origi- 
nal principles on which they v/ere founded ; their progr.-ssive and increas- 
ing subserviency to the Slave Interest, as .shown in obsequious devotion 
to its claims, culminating in that crowning act of infamy and treachery — 
the abrogation of the Missouri Compromise — and in the series of crimes 
and outrages by which it has been followed. 

This work shows, by the clearest and mo.st indisputable facts, drawn 
from our political history, that for some time past, the domiuant party 
— whether Whig or Democratic — was still under the same influence, and 
devoted steadily to the same single purpose — the protection and extension 
of Slavery — to which all platforms and issues must be made subordinate. 
This desertion of Freedom and devotion to J^lavery had, at length, be- 
come so bold and intolerable, as to compel right-thinking men to forget 
all minor icsues, and to combine their efiforts to resist its further baneful 
influence in the government; and the Republican Party was, Iherefore, 
a necessary result of the encroachments of Slavery. Heuce, it is believed 
that a complete history of its- principles, purposes, and policy, will be ac- 
ceptably to the friends of Freedom and tend to the triumph and per- 
petuation of the principles which they cherich, and for the maiutenanc-? 
and defease of which this furnishes the amplest and fullest materials. 



Three Years on the Kansas Border. 

By a Clergyman of the Episcopal Church. 12mo. — Price in paper cover* 
50 cts— Cloth 75 cts. 

THE FACT3 AND DISCLOSURES of this work are of the most start- 
ling character. The aucher went to the Border, imbued with conserva- 
tive ideas, and had therefore peculiar f cilities for the collection of reliable 
facts from unquestionable sources. The horrid and revolting purposes 
which he thus learned, corrected not only his former mistaken ideas, but 
so shocked his moral sensibilatiee, as to compel him to make 

A Full Expose of the Kansas Invasion, 

And to give a reliable history of the outrages of the Border Ruffians. 
This be has done in a manner particularly happy and effective, proving, 
conclusively that these modern Goiha and Vandals have committed 
crimes unparalleled in our previous history, and by which they hope to 
crush ©at Freedom and establish Slavery. Freemen ! shall it be so 



LIFE OF BEiNJAMIN FRANKLIN 

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF; AVITH HIS 

MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 

Steel Portrait, 375 pp. 12mo., Muslin. Price $1 00. 

'•' The GsEiT Man. who Fcoins b littlp thing 
Wlinse rhim^lus. wn sp deeds, w lose miixims are nis ows, 
Foruifd on the fee.ings ot his heart alone." 

Every Youth in the La.vd should read and re-read the Life 
and Essays of Franklin. Tliis edition contains the Original Au- 
tohiograplnj, and is completed to the death of the illustrious sub- 
ject. Franklin's ?«cwn7?i7raZ'/e i^ssoys are here presented in bold, 
clear typo, and the Lifk and Works of the great philosopher and 
statesman furnished in a form at once neat, convenient, and cheap. 



LIFE OF PATRICK HENRY, 

The Virginia Orator. 
BY S. G. ARNOLD, ESQ. 
In one Volume, 270 pp. 16mo., Muslin. Price 50 cents. 

The whole of Patrick Henry's career is most extraordinary, and 
exhibits intellectual endowments of no common oi'der. We see him 
in youth wastinj:^ his lime in the most frivolous pursuits ; wandering', 
pcrlmps, in listless idleness, through the forests, or stretched upon 
the bank of some meandering creek, and, for days together, watch- 
ing the murmuring current, or angling in its sparkhng waters. We 
follow him again behind the counter, where his negligence and idle- 
ness could not fail to work his ruin. "We behold him batHed upon 
his farm ; sunk in poverty and distress ; negligent of his business, 
careless ot his person, thoughtful only for the present moment; now 
hunting in the fields, and now serving his father in-iaw"s eustomei;s 
at the bar of a tavern. But. in one fortunate moment, he breaks his 
chains ; muUitudL-s hang in breathless silence upon his ma^jic 
words ; in a few short months his voice has startled a nation; his 
power is felt beyond the confines of his native land, and 

" Hei.ry, the forest born Demosthenes. 
Whose thunders aUakes the Puilip of the seas," 

is the idol of his native state, and the master-spirit of a great revolu" 
lion. 

MILLER, ORTON & MULLIGAN, Pubhsfters. 



J 



ELEGANT JUVENILE BOOKS 



AND OTHER TALES, 
By Caroline Chesebro'. IGmo., muslin. Price 75 cents. 



TUB STTixisro- OF :e>:eij^tix^& 

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, 
By T. S. Arthur. 16mo., muslin. Price 76 cents. 



With. Pictures to Match. 
By Francis C. Woodworth. 16mo., muslin. Price 75 cents. 



STORIISS ABOUT BIIIDS, 

With Pictures to Match. 
By Francis C. Woodworth. 16mo., muslin. Price 75 cents. 



WONDERS OF THE LNSECT AYORLD. 

With Pictures to Match. 
By Francls C. Woodworth. 16mo., muslin. Price 75 cents. 



Published by Miller, Orton & Mulligan, 

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Can find profitable employment during the present campaign, in 
circulating the following popular works : 

SSMUCKER'S LIFE OF FREMONT, containing hie Reports, Una- 
bridged. 500 pp, 12mo. Price $1. 
THE FREEMEN'S GLEE BOOK, a collection of Fremont and 
Dayton Songs, WITH MUSIC. Price 20 cts. 

THE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN SONGSTER. Forty-five 
thousand ah-eady sold. Price 12^ cents ; f 1 per dozen ; |7 per 
hundred ; $30 for five hundred. 

PETER STILL^THE KIDNAPPED AND THE RANSOMED, 
being the Personal Recollections of Peter Still and his Wife 
Vina, after Forty Years of Slavery. By Mrs. Kate E. R. Pick- 
ARC. With an Introduction by Rev. Samuel J. May, and an 
Appendix by Wm. H. Fuhne^s, D.D. 409 pp. 12mo., 5 Illustra- 
tions. Price $1 25. 

MY BONDAGE AND MY FREEDOM. By Frederck Doug- 
lass. With an Introduction by Dr, James McChne Smith. 
Price $1 25. 

ARCHY MOORE, THE WHITE SLAVE, OR MEMOIRS OF A 
FUGITIVE. By Richard HiLDRETH. 12mo., 8 Illustrations. 
12ino. Price f 1 25 

TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE. The Narrative of Solomon North- 
up, a Citizen of New York, Kidnapped in Washington City in 
1841, and Rescued in 1853, from a Cotton Plantation near Red 
River, in Louisiana. 7 Illustrations, 336 pp. 12mo. Price $1. 

AMERICAN AGITATORS AND REFORMERS. By D. W^ 
Bartlett. Containing bold, vigorous, and life-like Sketches 
of the Beechers, Mrs. Stowe, Greeley, Seward, Gough, 
Chapin, Frederick Douglass, &c., &c., with extracts from 
their writings. 6 Steel Portraits, 396 pp., 12mo. Price $1 25. 

OUR WORLD; OR, ANNEITE, THE SLAVEHOLDER'S 
DAUGHTER. Illustrated, G03pp., 12mo. Price $1 2.5, 

ATROCIOUS JUDGES. LIVES OF JUDGES, INFAMOUS 
as Tools of Tyranny, and Instruments of Oppression. By John, 
Lord CAMnncLL. With an Appendix, containing the case of 
Passmore Williamson. Edited, with an Introduction and 
Notes, by Richard HiLDRETH. 420 pp., 12itio. Price $1. 

Any of our books mailed free on receipt of retail price. 

For full parlicuiiirs address, 

MILLER, ORTOX & MULLIGAN, Publishers, 

i5 Pariv Row, New York ; or 107 Genc?ce st., Auburn. 



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